Driving in Mexico vs Sri Lanka: Key Safety Insights
Exploring the unique road regulations between Mexico and Sri Lanka reveals fascinating contrasts in traffic norms and safety practices. While Mexico drives on the right and embraces various lane usages, Sri Lanka adheres to left-side driving with strict overtaking rules. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Mexico | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. | 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
mexico:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mexico:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
mexico:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mexico:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mexico:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
mexico:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
mexico:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mexico:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mexico | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular signs with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
mexico:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate 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
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
Limits: General Drivers
mexico:
0.08%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mexico:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Roundabouts
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
mexico:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 066 or 911 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
mexico:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
mexico:
066 or 911
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Mexico | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, up to $50, points in some states | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; can lead to significant fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; system improvements for online payments | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay