Driving in Peru vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Revealed
When exploring the roads of Peru and Sri Lanka, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for a safe journey. Notably, Peru drives on the right while Sri Lanka keeps to the left. Additional distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and the protocols surrounding emergency vehicles. Prepare for your travels by familiarizing yourself with these crucial contrasts!
Lanes
| Peru | 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 | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
peru:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
peru:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
peru:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
peru:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
peru:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
peru:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
peru:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
peru:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
peru:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
peru:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Peru | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; often collected by traffic police | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
peru:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
peru:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
peru:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
peru:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
peru:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
peru:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
peru:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
peru:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Peru | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Peru | 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; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
peru:
Yellow
sri lanka:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
peru:
Not used in Peru
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
peru:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
peru:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Peru | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Peru | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, proof is required during checks | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Typically displayed on vehicle | 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
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
peru:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
peru:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Peru | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used more 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
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Peru | 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; checkpoints used widely | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
peru:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
peru:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
peru:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Peru | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
peru:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Peru | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 105 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local service | 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
peru:
105
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
peru:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
peru:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Peru | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, often substantial | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay