Driving in Monaco vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
Traveling from Monaco to Sri Lanka offers unique challenges for motorists. With Monaco driving on the right and Sri Lanka on the left, understanding these nuances is vital for a secure journey. Key distinctions include varying speed limits, road markings, and the use of emergency equipment, all essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable drive abroad.
Lanes
| Monaco | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
monaco:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
monaco:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Monaco | 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 | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | 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
monaco:
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
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
monaco:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Monaco | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Monaco | 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | 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
monaco:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Monaco | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
monaco:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
monaco:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Monaco | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Monaco | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applies if not used | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay