Driving in Russia vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations in Russia and Sri Lanka, several notable distinctions emerge. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and traffic signals, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring safe travel. This guide highlights essential driving norms to help you navigate the unique challenges of each country with confidence.
Lanes
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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 taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | 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 | N/A | 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
russia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
russia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
russia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
russia:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
russia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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; but fines are also mailed | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
russia:
60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
russia:
20 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
russia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
russia:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
russia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Russia | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Russian; 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
russia:
Not used in Russia
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
russia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually indicated in vehicle documents | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
russia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Russia | 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
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.035% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in cities | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
russia:
0.035%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
russia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
russia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
russia:
Common, especially in cities
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers; 113 is common | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
russia:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
russia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Russia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points in the record | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
russia:
Fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
russia:
Fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay