Driving Differences: Nigeria vs. Sri Lanka Explained
Navigating the roads of Nigeria and Sri Lanka presents unique challenges and regulations. This comparison highlights crucial distinctions, such as driving on opposite sides and varying speed limits. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used as a divider on major roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; overtaking may be allowed on overtaking lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only where permitted and safe. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane where applicable. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved mainly for BRT buses in certain cities. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled 'BRT' or demarcated with other markers; signs often indicate lanes. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles and motorbikes often share roads with cars. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
nigeria:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nigeria:
Used as a divider on major roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
nigeria:
Not commonly used; overtaking may be allowed on overtaking lanes.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
nigeria:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
nigeria:
Only where permitted and safe.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nigeria:
Use rightmost lane where applicable.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
nigeria:
Reserved mainly for BRT buses in certain cities.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nigeria:
May be labeled 'BRT' or demarcated with other markers; signs often indicate lanes.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nigeria:
Bicycles and motorbikes often share roads with cars.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nigeria:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nigeria:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nigeria:
Not commonly used
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 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 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare, mostly manual enforcement | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
nigeria:
30-50 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nigeria:
20-30 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nigeria:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nigeria:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nigeria:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nigeria:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nigeria:
Not commonly used
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nigeria:
Rare, mostly manual enforcement
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nigeria:
Yes, common practice
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to other road users | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Often used to signal presence or warning | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged at night in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Rare but can apply for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To indicate overtaking or to warn other drivers | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not for other messages | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common in certain areas | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols can vary | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
nigeria:
Proceed with caution, yield to other road users
sri lanka:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nigeria:
Not commonly used
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Allowed
nigeria:
Often used to signal presence or warning
sri lanka:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
nigeria:
Discouraged at night in residential areas
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
nigeria:
Rare but can apply for misuse
sri lanka:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
nigeria:
To indicate overtaking or to warn other drivers
sri lanka:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
nigeria:
Not for other messages
sri lanka:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
nigeria:
More common in certain areas
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
nigeria:
English; symbols can vary
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nigeria:
Triangular with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed unless indicated | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
| Special Turn Lanes | Rarely marked | Yes, marked with arrows |
Right Turn On Red
nigeria:
Generally not allowed unless indicated
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
nigeria:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Special Turn Lanes
nigeria:
Rarely marked
sri lanka:
Yes, marked with arrows
Documentation
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Insurance | Third party insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nigeria:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nigeria:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Insurance
nigeria:
Third party insurance mandatory
sri lanka:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nigeria:
Yes, annual vehicle inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nigeria:
Displayed on the vehicle
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nigeria:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Sometimes observed, depending on traffic and location | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Lane Courtesy: Blocking | Discouraged and can lead to fines | Discouraged and may be penalized |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used, but officially for emergencies | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, similar to some other countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but may not be strictly enforced | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
nigeria:
Discouraged
sri lanka:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
nigeria:
Sometimes observed, depending on traffic and location
sri lanka:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Lane Courtesy: Blocking
nigeria:
Discouraged and can lead to fines
sri lanka:
Discouraged and may be penalized
Use Of Horn: Limited
nigeria:
Commonly used, but officially for emergencies
sri lanka:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nigeria:
Frequent use, similar to some other countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
nigeria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but may not be strictly enforced
sri lanka:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nigeria:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasional roadblocks | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Fines vary across states | Can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for repeated or severe offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Likely to result in arrest or fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
nigeria:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
nigeria:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nigeria:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nigeria:
Occasional roadblocks
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
nigeria:
Fines vary across states
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
nigeria:
Possible for repeated or severe offenses
sri lanka:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
nigeria:
Likely to result in arrest or fines
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Priority: Inside | Maintain lane, avoid abrupt lane changes | Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly |
| Signaling: Entering | Signal appropriately when entering if turning | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Priority: Inside
nigeria:
Maintain lane, avoid abrupt lane changes
sri lanka:
Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly
Signaling: Entering
nigeria:
Signal appropriately when entering if turning
sri lanka:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
nigeria:
Signal when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nigeria:
Use for subsequent exits
sri lanka:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 199 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region; check local contact | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nigeria:
112 or 199
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
nigeria:
Varies by region; check local contact
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nigeria:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nigeria:
Recommended but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nigeria | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be heavy fine, often on-the-spot | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; fines and potential jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine for not wearing; enforcement varies | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; hands-free concept encouraged | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines imposed; traffic light cameras in some areas | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually with cash | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies by offense | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nigeria:
Varies; can be heavy fine, often on-the-spot
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
nigeria:
Varies; fines and potential jail time
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nigeria:
Fine for not wearing; enforcement varies
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
nigeria:
Fines apply; hands-free concept encouraged
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nigeria:
Fines imposed; traffic light cameras in some areas
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
nigeria:
Common; usually with cash
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
nigeria:
Varies by offense
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay