Driving in Qatar vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Qatar and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly influence their experience. From the side of the road on which they travel to varying speed limits and rules governing overtaking, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring road safety and compliance in each unique environment.
Lanes
| Qatar | 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 only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | 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
qatar:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
qatar:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
qatar:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
qatar:
Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
qatar:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
qatar:
Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
qatar:
Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
qatar:
Limited
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
qatar:
Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
qatar:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
qatar:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
qatar:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Qatar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60-80 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 60 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
qatar:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
qatar:
60 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
qatar:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
qatar:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
qatar:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
qatar:
120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
qatar:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
qatar:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
qatar:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Qatar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Qatar | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; 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: Red And Amber Together
qatar:
Not used in Qatar
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
qatar:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
qatar:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
qatar:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Qatar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
qatar:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
qatar:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Qatar | 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 | Annual inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
qatar:
Annual inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
qatar:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Qatar | 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
qatar:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
qatar:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Qatar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; penalties are severe | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
qatar:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
qatar:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
qatar:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
qatar:
Can be substantial; penalties are severe
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Qatar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
qatar:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Qatar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or local authorities | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or contact private services | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
qatar:
999
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
qatar:
999 or local authorities
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
qatar:
Check with your insurance provider or contact private services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Qatar | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, point system applies | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Minimum 500 QR | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Minimum 500 QR, point system applies | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, or online payment options | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
qatar:
Varies; can be substantial, point system applies
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
qatar:
Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR, point system applies
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
qatar:
Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
qatar:
Yes, or online payment options
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
qatar:
Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay