Driving Differences: Lithuania vs Slovakia Explained
The driving landscapes of Lithuania and Slovakia present unique challenges and regulations for travelers. While Lithuania allows right turns on red and has a blood alcohol limit of 0.04%, Slovakia maintains a stricter 0.00% limit and prohibits such turns. Understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring your safety on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
slovakia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
slovakia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
slovakia:
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.
slovakia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
slovakia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
lithuania:
N/A
slovakia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
lithuania:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, issued by police. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
lithuania:
30 km/h
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
lithuania:
80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
lithuania:
70 km/h
slovakia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
lithuania:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
slovakia:
Yes
Signals
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates prepared to start | Not used in Slovakia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Lithuanian; symbols are standard | Slovak; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
slovakia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
slovakia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 along with local license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual check | Mandatory and regular inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
lithuania:
Common practice
slovakia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Alcohol
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, particularly at night and weekends | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on BAC level | Can be substantial |
| 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%
slovakia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
slovakia:
Can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
slovakia:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
slovakia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 158 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service |
Contact: Traffic Police
lithuania:
112
slovakia:
158
Contact: Roadside Assistance
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Penalties And Fines
| Lithuania | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines apply | €50 to €150, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required | €100 to €200, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | €100 to €250, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, by police | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Alcohol
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
slovakia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
lithuania:
Fines apply
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
lithuania:
Yes, by police
slovakia:
Common
Payment: Deadline
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay