Driving in Serbia vs. Sri Lanka: Know Before You Go
When navigating the roads abroad, understanding the unique rules and regulations can significantly enhance your safety. This comparison between Serbia and Sri Lanka reveals critical distinctions, such as driving on the right in Serbia versus the left in Sri Lanka, and variations in speed limits and lane usage. Stay informed to drive confidently and securely in either country.
Lanes
| Serbia | 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. |
| 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
serbia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
serbia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
serbia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 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 | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
serbia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
serbia:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
serbia:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Serbia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
serbia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Serbia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 signs |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Serbia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Serbia | 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
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Serbia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
serbia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Serbia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Serbia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
serbia:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay