Driving in North Macedonia vs Romania: Key Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of North Macedonia and Romania, understanding the nuances of their traffic regulations is essential for safe travel. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol consumption laws, which vary significantly. This comparison aims to equip drivers with vital knowledge for a secure driving experience in these neighboring countries.
Lanes
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Overtaking: On Right
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
north macedonia:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
north macedonia:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
north macedonia:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
70 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
120 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
north macedonia:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
north macedonia:
Yes
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Prohibited in urban areas at night | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to signal other messages | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Macedonian; standard symbols | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
romania:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Headlight Flash: Usage
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
romania:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
romania:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless specified by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed when not prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Road Etiquette
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
north macedonia:
Common practice
romania:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted at checkpoints | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
north macedonia:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Enforcement: Random Checks
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local service providers | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Traffic Police
north macedonia:
192
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
north macedonia:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| North macedonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 EUR | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 40 EUR | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 250 EUR, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
north macedonia:
50 EUR
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
north macedonia:
40 EUR
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
north macedonia:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist