Driving in Romania vs. Russia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Romania and Russia, understanding their unique regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits—where Romania sets a maximum of 130 km/h on highways compared to Russia's 110 km/h— and lane usage, with Romania having limited bus lanes. Explore how these variations can impact your travel experience.
Lanes
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Bus Lanes: Usage
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
russia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
romania:
Not applicable
russia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
romania:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
romania:
50 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
romania:
30 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
romania:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
romania:
80 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
romania:
130 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
romania:
100 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
romania:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
romania:
Yes, common practice
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Romania | Not used in Russia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Romanian; symbols are standard | Russian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
romania:
Not used in Romania
russia:
Not used in Russia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
russia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
romania:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
romania:
International Driving Permit required
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
romania:
Mandatory
russia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use expected | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
romania:
Moderate use expected
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits | 0.035% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Considerable fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
russia:
0.035%
Enforcement: Random Checks
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 112 for police assistance | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or a local service | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
russia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
russia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Romania | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Hefty fines and possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable; license points may be added | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist | Possible if fines are not paid |
Common Fines: Speeding
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist
russia:
Possible if fines are not paid