Driving in Norway vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Explained
Driving in Norway and Sri Lanka presents unique challenges and regulations that are essential for travelers to understand. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides of the road, varying speed limits, and road etiquette practices. By familiarizing yourself with these nuances, you can ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience behind the wheel in both countries.
Lanes
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | 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 'BUS ONLY'; often 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 colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
norway:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
norway:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 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 | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
norway:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
norway:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot