Driving in Myanmar vs Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices between Myanmar and Sri Lanka. From driving sides and speed limits to unique traffic signals, this comparison sheds light on essential safety measures for travelers. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and smooth journey in these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Allowed when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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
myanmar:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
myanmar:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
myanmar:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot