Driving in Italy vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Italy and Sri Lanka, notable distinctions emerge that impact travel safety. Key variances include driving sides—Italy adheres to right-hand traffic while Sri Lanka follows left. Moreover, speed limits and lane markings differ significantly, highlighting the importance of understanding local rules for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead 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
italy:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
italy:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
italy:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Italy | 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 with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent 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
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
italy:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay