Driving in Kazakhstan vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
When traversing the roads of Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka, understanding their unique driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Notably, Kazakhstan drives on the right, while Sri Lanka opts for the left. Additionally, speed limits and traffic protocols vary significantly, impacting your travel experience. Explore these vital distinctions to ensure your road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Kazakhstan | 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: Markings | Labeled with specific signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Varies by region | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles where present. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
kazakhstan:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kazakhstan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
kazakhstan:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
kazakhstan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kazakhstan:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Labeled with specific signs and road markings.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kazakhstan:
Varies by region
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kazakhstan:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kazakhstan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
kazakhstan:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kazakhstan:
20 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kazakhstan:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kazakhstan:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kazakhstan | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Kazakh and Russian; 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
kazakhstan:
Not used in Kazakhstan
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
kazakhstan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
kazakhstan:
Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kazakhstan:
Triangular with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| 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 | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kazakhstan:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use | 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
kazakhstan:
Moderate use
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kazakhstan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
kazakhstan:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
kazakhstan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 102 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
kazakhstan:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
kazakhstan:
Call 102
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kazakhstan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kazakhstan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for handheld use while driving | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for non-use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for handheld use while driving
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
kazakhstan:
Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot