Driving in Israel vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Israel and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter significant contrasts that impact their travel experience. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and unique traffic regulations, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring safe journeys. This comparison sheds light on essential driving practices in both nations, enhancing your awareness and preparedness.
Lanes
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
israel:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
israel:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
israel:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot