Driving Differences: Libya vs. Sri Lanka Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads, Libya and Sri Lanka present distinct contrasts that every traveler should be aware of. From driving sides—where Libya adheres to the right while Sri Lanka opts for the left—to varying speed limits and traffic regulations, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore the key distinctions that can impact your driving experience in these two unique nations.
Lanes
| Libya | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the separation between directions on some roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Not commonly designated. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Not commonly designated. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Generally not used. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
libya:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
libya:
Marks the separation between directions on some roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
libya:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
libya:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
libya:
Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
libya:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
libya:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
libya:
Not commonly designated.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
libya:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
libya:
Not commonly designated.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
libya:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
libya:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
libya:
Generally not used.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Libya | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| 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: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Generally not used. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
libya:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
libya:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
libya:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
libya:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
libya:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
libya:
Generally not used.
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
libya:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Libya | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Libya | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
libya:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
sri lanka:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
libya:
Not used in Libya
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
libya:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
libya:
Arabic
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
libya:
Triangle-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Libya | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed unless specified | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
libya:
Generally not allowed unless specified
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
libya:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Libya | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required for registration and periodically thereafter | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
libya:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
libya:
Required for registration and periodically thereafter
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
libya:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
libya:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Libya | 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
libya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
libya:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Libya | 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 | Possible; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
libya:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
libya:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
libya:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
libya:
Possible; checkpoints used in some areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
libya:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Libya | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
libya:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Libya | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 193 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by area | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
libya:
193
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
libya:
Varies by area
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
libya:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
libya:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Libya | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on severity | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines may apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
libya:
Varies; fines based on severity
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
libya:
Fines may apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
libya:
Fines may apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
libya:
Fines may apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
libya:
Possible
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
libya:
Varies; typically required within 30 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay