Driving in Saudi Arabia vs. Serbia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Saudi Arabia and Serbia, understanding their unique traffic regulations and practices is essential for ensuring safe travel. Key distinctions include the presence of dedicated bus and cycle lanes in Serbia, while Saudi Arabia features high-occupancy lanes. Moreover, the approach to speed limits and alcohol restrictions varies significantly, highlighting the need for awareness when driving in these distinct environments.
Lanes
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
serbia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
serbia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
Yes
serbia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120-140 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
serbia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Saudi Arabia | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use for communication on the road | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, random checkpoints are used | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; possible imprisonment | Substantial, varies by severity |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Frequent for offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Enforcement: Imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
serbia:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 1987 |
Contact: General Emergency
saudi arabia:
999
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
saudi arabia:
993
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
serbia:
1987
Penalties And Fines
| Saudi arabia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, imprisonment | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay