Philippines vs Sri Lanka: Driving Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of the Philippines and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. From differing driving orientations—right in the Philippines and left in Sri Lanka—to unique speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe journey abroad.
Lanes
| Philippines | 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 | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorcycles or 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 occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
philippines:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
philippines:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
philippines:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
philippines:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Philippines | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 kph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 kph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 kph | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Less common; fines are usually issued later | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
philippines:
40 kph
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
philippines:
20 kph
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
80 kph
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
philippines:
70 kph
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
50 kph
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
100 kph
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
philippines:
80 kph
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
80 kph
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Speed Units
philippines:
kph
sri lanka:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Philippines | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Filipino; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
philippines:
Not used
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
philippines:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Philippines | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Philippines | 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 |
| Insurance | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Insurance
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
sri lanka:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
philippines:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Philippines | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users | 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Philippines | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Philippines | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
philippines:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Philippines | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AAA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
philippines:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
philippines:
117
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
philippines:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Philippines | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | PHP 300 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | PHP 1000 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
philippines:
PHP 300
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
philippines:
PHP 1000
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay