Driving in Serbia vs. Turkey: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Serbia and Turkey, understanding the driving nuances is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions emerge in speed limits, overtaking rules, and documentation requirements. While Serbia allows right-side overtaking under specific conditions, Turkey imposes stricter regulations. Familiarizing oneself with these variations ensures a smoother driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
Overtaking: On Right
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
80 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
serbia:
Yes
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Serbian; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by city; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Road Etiquette
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
turkey:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges