Portugal vs. United Kingdom: Key Driving Differences
When traversing the diverse roads of Portugal and the United Kingdom, understanding the distinctive regulations and customs can significantly enhance your travel experience. From varying speed limits and lane usage to unique signaling practices, these countries showcase notable contrasts in their driving protocols. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances ensures a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
portugal:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
portugal:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
portugal:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
portugal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
portugal:
Prohibited.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
portugal:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
portugal:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
portugal:
N/A
united kingdom:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
portugal:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
portugal:
30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
portugal:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
70 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
120 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
portugal:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
portugal:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
portugal:
Possible
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Portugal | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
portugal:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
portugal:
Prohibited
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
portugal:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
portugal:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permit required | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| 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
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
portugal:
0.05%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Enforcement: Random Checks
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
portugal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
portugal:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local authorities | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACP | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
portugal:
112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
portugal:
Contact local authorities
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Portugal | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €120 to €600 | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €240 to €1,200 | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €120 to €600 | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
portugal:
€120 to €600
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
portugal:
€120 to €600
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
portugal:
Possible
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay