Driving in Romania vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Romania and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter significant variations in regulations and practices. From driving on the right versus the left to differing speed limits and lane usage, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring safe travels abroad. Discover the critical distinctions that will aid your journey in these two unique locations.
Lanes
| Romania | 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 on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
romania:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
romania:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
romania:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
romania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
romania:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Romania | 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 | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 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: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
romania:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
romania:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
romania:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
romania:
130 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
romania:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
romania:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
romania:
Yes, common practice
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Romania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Romania | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Romanian; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
romania:
Not used in Romania
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
romania:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Romania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Romania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections 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
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
romania:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
romania:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Romania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use expected | 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
romania:
Moderate use expected
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Romania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Considerable fines for offenses | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
romania:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
romania:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Romania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
romania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Romania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 112 for police assistance | 119 or contact local police |
| 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 | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
romania:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Romania | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit | Varies; expect 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 applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable; license points may be added | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist
sri lanka:
Possible if fines are not paid