Driving in Romania vs. Turkey: Key Safety Differences
When traveling to Romania or Turkey, understanding the nuances of their road regulations is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include overtaking rules, speed limits, and alcohol enforcement. This comparison reveals how each country approaches vehicle use, providing vital insights for safe travels abroad.
Lanes
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| 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. |
Overtaking: On Right
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Markings
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
turkey:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
romania:
Not applicable
turkey:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
romania:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 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, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
romania:
130 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
romania:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
romania:
Yes, common practice
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Romania | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Romanian; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
romania:
Not used in Romania
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
romania:
Not allowed
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
romania:
International Driving Permit required
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Road Etiquette
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use expected | More frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
romania:
Moderate use expected
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Considerable fines for offenses | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
turkey:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
romania:
0.00%
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
romania:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 112 for police assistance | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or a local service | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Romania | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Hefty fines and possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable; license points may be added | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
| 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
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist
turkey:
Possible if fines are not paid