Driving Differences: Kazakhstan vs. North Macedonia
When exploring the roads of Kazakhstan and North Macedonia, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Key differences include lane usage, speed limits, and signaling practices. While Kazakhstan permits overtaking on multi-lane roads, North Macedonia enforces stricter rules. Equip yourself with this knowledge for a safer driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Varies by region | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles where present. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
Overtaking: On Right
kazakhstan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Reserved for buses.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Labeled with specific signs and road markings.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kazakhstan:
Varies by region
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
Speeds Limits
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
kazakhstan:
40-60 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kazakhstan:
20 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
110 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Signals
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kazakhstan | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
kazakhstan:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kazakhstan:
Not used in Kazakhstan
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kazakhstan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
kazakhstan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
kazakhstan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
kazakhstan:
Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
kazakhstan:
Triangular with red border
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kazakhstan:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kazakhstan:
Displayed on windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
kazakhstan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kazakhstan:
Moderate use
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kazakhstan:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 102 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
kazakhstan:
Call 102
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kazakhstan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kazakhstan | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for handheld use while driving | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for non-use
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for handheld use while driving
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kazakhstan:
Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
kazakhstan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay