Driving Differences: Serbia vs Spain for Safe Travels
When traveling to Serbia or Spain, understanding the unique road regulations and driving customs is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol tolerance, with Spain enforcing stricter penalties. Familiarizing yourself with these variations will enhance your overall driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
Overtaking: On Right
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Usage
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
serbia:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
serbia:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
serbia:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
serbia:
80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
serbia:
Yes
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Serbian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by city; check for signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Alcohol
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
serbia:
0.00%
spain:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay