Driving in Portugal vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Explained
When venturing from Portugal to Sri Lanka, understanding the distinct nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. From contrasting driving sides to varied speed limits and unique signaling practices, this comparison sheds light on essential driving protocols that differ significantly between these two nations. Equip yourself with knowledge for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Portugal | 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 | Prohibited. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
portugal:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
portugal:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
portugal:
Prohibited.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
portugal:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Portugal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
portugal:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
portugal:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
portugal:
Possible
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Portugal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Portugal | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
portugal:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Portugal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
portugal:
Prohibited
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Portugal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permit required | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Portugal | 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
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Portugal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
portugal:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Portugal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
portugal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Portugal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local authorities | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACP | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
portugal:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
portugal:
Contact local authorities
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Portugal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €120 to €600 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €240 to €1,200 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €120 to €600 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
portugal:
€120 to €600
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
portugal:
€120 to €600
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
portugal:
Possible
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot