Driving in Norway vs. Russia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Norway and Russia, understanding the unique regulations can significantly impact your travel experience. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol limits, with Norway enforcing stricter rules compared to Russia. This guide will help ensure your journey abroad is both safe and compliant with local laws.
Lanes
| Norway | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
russia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
russia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
russia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
norway:
Yes
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Norway | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in Russia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | Russian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
russia:
Not used in Russia
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Norway | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
norway:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Norway | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
russia:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Norway | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.035% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
russia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Norway | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
russia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay