Driving Safely: Pakistan vs Saudi Arabia on the Road
Discover the driving landscape of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where road rules and etiquette vary significantly. From the side of the road you navigate to speed regulations and lane usage, this comparison reveals crucial distinctions that can enhance your journey and ensure safety while traveling abroad. Stay informed and drive wisely!
Lanes
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Prohibited | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allowed on open roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in major cities | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in some urban areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols on road. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
Driving Side
pakistan:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
pakistan:
Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
pakistan:
Prohibited
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
pakistan:
Yes, allowed on open roads.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
pakistan:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
pakistan:
Yes, in major cities
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
pakistan:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
pakistan:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
pakistan:
Limited
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
pakistan:
Primarily in some urban areas.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
pakistan:
Bicycle symbols on road.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
pakistan:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
pakistan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued on the spot | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
pakistan:
40 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
pakistan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
pakistan:
100-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
pakistan:
90-110 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
pakistan:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be issued on the spot
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some rural areas | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Urdu; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard warning signs used | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
pakistan:
Not used
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
pakistan:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
pakistan:
Used in some rural areas
saudi arabia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
pakistan:
English and Urdu; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
pakistan:
Standard warning signs used
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
pakistan:
Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
pakistan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually not required | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
pakistan:
Varies by province; proof may be required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
pakistan:
Usually not required
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
pakistan:
Not mandatory but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
pakistan:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used in urban areas | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
pakistan:
Commonly used in urban areas
saudi arabia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
pakistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
pakistan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in fines and legal action | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
pakistan:
Common; checkpoints used
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
pakistan:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
pakistan:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
pakistan:
Can result in fines and legal action
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics) | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 15 for assistance | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
pakistan:
115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics)
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
pakistan:
15 for assistance
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
pakistan:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
pakistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
pakistan:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Pakistan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Strict penalties, including imprisonment | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine if not worn where mandatory | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and possible license points | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be paid on the spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
pakistan:
Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
pakistan:
Strict penalties, including imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
pakistan:
Fine if not worn where mandatory
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
pakistan:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
pakistan:
Fines and possible license points
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be paid on the spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
pakistan:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay