Driving in Senegal vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roadways of Senegal and Sri Lanka, you'll encounter distinct variations in traffic regulations and practices. Key contrasts include driving on opposite sides, unique speed limits, and differing approaches to pedestrian right-of-way. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Senegal | 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 | 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: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
senegal:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
senegal:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
senegal:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
senegal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
senegal:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
senegal:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Senegal | 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 | 110 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
senegal:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
110 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
senegal:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
senegal:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
senegal:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Senegal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Senegal | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
senegal:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Senegal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Senegal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or 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
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
senegal:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
senegal:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Senegal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
sri lanka:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Senegal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
Limits: General Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Roundabouts
| Senegal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
senegal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Senegal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 18 or 17 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
senegal:
18 or 17
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
senegal:
17
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
senegal:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
senegal:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Senegal | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 10,000 CFA | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; significant fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; often required immediately | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
senegal:
10,000 CFA
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay