Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Ivory Coast and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can impact their journey. Key contrasts include the side of the road on which to drive—right in Ivory Coast and left in Sri Lanka—as well as varying speed limits and road etiquette. Understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience abroad.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | 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 | 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 | Typically 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, but limited in urban areas. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
ivory coast:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
ivory coast:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ivory coast:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | 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 | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Ivory coast | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
sri lanka:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
ivory coast:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Ivory coast | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ivory coast | 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 vehicle inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
sri lanka:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Ivory coast | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
ivory coast:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 119 or contact local police |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay