Driving in Lithuania vs. Romania: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in driving regulations and road etiquette between Lithuania and Romania. From lane markings to alcohol limits, this comparison highlights essential distinctions that travelers should be aware of for a safer journey. Understanding these nuances can significantly enhance your driving experience while ensuring compliance with local laws.
Lanes
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separation of opposing traffic directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Passing permitted with caution. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
romania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
lithuania:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
lithuania:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, issued by police. | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
lithuania:
70 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates prepared to start | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Lithuanian; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual check | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
lithuania:
Common practice
romania:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
lithuania:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, particularly at night and weekends | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on BAC level | Considerable fines for offenses |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Results in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
lithuania:
0.04%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Enforcement: Random Checks
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Enforcement: Imprisonment
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
romania:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
romania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Traffic Police
lithuania:
112
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
lithuania:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Lithuania | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines apply | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, by police | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
lithuania:
Fines apply
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
lithuania:
Yes, by police
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
lithuania:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist