Driving in Italy vs. Lithuania: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Italy and Lithuania, understanding the distinct driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key variances include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance levels, highlighting Italy’s unique practices alongside Lithuania’s more stringent measures. Equip yourself with this knowledge to drive safely and confidently in these fascinating countries.
Lanes
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Separation of opposing traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Passing permitted with caution. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
lithuania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
lithuania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, issued by police. |
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
lithuania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
lithuania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
Signals
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Indicates prepared to start |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | Lithuanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Mandatory annual check |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
italy:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
lithuania:
Common practice
Alcohol
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, particularly at night and weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial; varies based on BAC level |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
italy:
0.05%
lithuania:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
Enforcement: Imprisonment
italy:
Possible for severe offenses
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
Test Refusal
italy:
Can result in license suspension
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Contact your insurance provider |
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
lithuania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Mandatory, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Yes, by police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
lithuania:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
lithuania:
Yes, by police
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay