Driving in Montenegro vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Montenegro and Sri Lanka, it's crucial to recognize their unique driving regulations. While Montenegro adheres to right-side navigation, Sri Lanka favors the left. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Montenegro | 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 | Usually not allowed; adhere to local regulations. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with road signs and pavement markings. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
montenegro:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
montenegro:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
montenegro:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
montenegro:
Usually not allowed; adhere to local regulations.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
montenegro:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
montenegro:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
montenegro:
Labeled with road signs and pavement markings.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
montenegro:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
montenegro:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
montenegro:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
montenegro:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
montenegro:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be imposed on the spot | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
montenegro:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
montenegro:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
montenegro:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
montenegro:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
montenegro:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
montenegro:
Yes, fines can be imposed on the spot
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Montenegro | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Montenegrin; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border and white background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
montenegro:
Not used in Montenegro
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
montenegro:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
montenegro:
Montenegrin; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
montenegro:
Triangle-shaped with red border and white background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Sometimes allowed, check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
montenegro:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
montenegro:
Sometimes allowed, check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for extended stays | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
montenegro:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for extended stays
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
montenegro:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
montenegro:
Yes, periodic inspections required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
montenegro:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
montenegro:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use common but regulated | 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
montenegro:
Use common but regulated
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
montenegro:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
montenegro:
0.03%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
montenegro:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
montenegro:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
montenegro:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
montenegro:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available from several organizations; check locally | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
montenegro:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
montenegro:
122
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
montenegro:
Available from several organizations; check locally
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
montenegro:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
montenegro:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Montenegro | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be up to €1,200 for severe offenses | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, amount varies | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, amount varies | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, amount varies | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common for minor offenses | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Usually within 8 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
montenegro:
Varies; can be up to €1,200 for severe offenses
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
montenegro:
Common for minor offenses
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
montenegro:
Usually within 8 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay