Driving in North Macedonia vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of North Macedonia and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can impact their journey. From varying lane usage and speed limits to unique traffic signals and documentation requirements, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure and pleasant driving experience abroad. Prepare for a deeper dive into the essential contrasts between these two countries!
Lanes
| North macedonia | 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 | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. | 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 'BUS' or with road signs. | 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 marked paths. | 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
north macedonia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
north macedonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
north macedonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
north macedonia:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
north macedonia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| North macedonia | 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 | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 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 |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
north macedonia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
north macedonia:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
north macedonia:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
north macedonia:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| North macedonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Prohibited in urban areas at night | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| 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 |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Macedonian; standard symbols | 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
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
sri lanka:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
sri lanka:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
sri lanka:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
north macedonia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| North macedonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless specified by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed when not prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| North macedonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
north macedonia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| North macedonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
north macedonia:
Common practice
sri lanka:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| North macedonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted at checkpoints | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
Limits: General Drivers
north macedonia:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
north macedonia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
north macedonia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Roundabouts
| North macedonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| North macedonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local service providers | 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
north macedonia:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
north macedonia:
192
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
north macedonia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| North macedonia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 EUR | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 40 EUR | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 250 EUR, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
north macedonia:
50 EUR
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
north macedonia:
40 EUR
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay