Driving in Jordan vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
When exploring the unique road rules of Jordan and Saudi Arabia, key distinctions emerge that are vital for ensuring safe travels. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol regulations, understanding these driving variances can significantly enhance your experience. Prepare to navigate the roads with confidence in both countries!
Lanes
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the roadway. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No specific bus lanes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited; primarily in urban areas. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicular traffic. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Cycle symbols where applicable. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
jordan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
jordan:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
jordan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; common. | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
jordan:
50-60 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
jordan:
40 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
jordan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
jordan:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
jordan:
100-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
jordan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
jordan:
Yes; common.
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | To avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
jordan:
Not typically used
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Horn Usage: Allowed
jordan:
To avoid accidents
saudi arabia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspections required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
jordan:
Annual inspections required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
jordan:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
jordan:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use is common | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
jordan:
Moderate use is common
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common at checkpoints | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
jordan:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
jordan:
Can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
jordan:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
jordan:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 993 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
jordan:
911
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
jordan:
911
saudi arabia:
993
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
jordan:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Jordan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, occasionally | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
jordan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
jordan:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
jordan:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
jordan:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay