Driving in Serbia vs. Slovakia: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of Serbia and Slovakia, understanding the nuances of each country's regulations is vital for ensuring a secure driving experience. Key distinctions include speed limits, alcohol tolerance, and the rules surrounding turns. Familiarizing yourself with these variations will enhance your safety while traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Serbia | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
slovakia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
serbia:
N/A
slovakia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
serbia:
30 km/h
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
serbia:
80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
slovakia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
120 km/h
slovakia:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Signals
| Serbia | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | Not used in Slovakia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Serbian; symbols are standard | Slovak; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Serbia | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by city; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
slovakia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Serbia | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required along with local license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections | Mandatory and regular inspections required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
Alcohol
| Serbia | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
slovakia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
slovakia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Serbia | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 158 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service |
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
slovakia:
158
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | €50 to €150, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | €100 to €200, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | €100 to €250, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
slovakia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
slovakia:
Common
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay