Driving in Paraguay vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Tips
Exploring the roads of Paraguay and Sri Lanka reveals intriguing contrasts in their traffic regulations and driving culture. While Paraguay drives on the right, Sri Lanka opts for the left side, impacting lane usage and overtaking practices. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Paraguay | 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 | Rarely, usually prohibited. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. | 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
paraguay:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
paraguay:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
paraguay:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Paraguay | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 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 | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities. | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
paraguay:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
paraguay:
Common
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Paraguay | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Paraguay | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; standard symbols used as well | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
paraguay:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Paraguay | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Paraguay | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
paraguay:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Paraguay | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent than in some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
sri lanka:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Paraguay | 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 | Common; police checkpoints | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
paraguay:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Paraguay | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Paraguay | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
paraguay:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
paraguay:
911
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
paraguay:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
paraguay:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Paraguay | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply; amount varies | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; amount varies | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines and penalties | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay