Driving Differences: Serbia vs. United Kingdom
When traversing the roads of Serbia and the United Kingdom, understanding the distinct rules and practices is essential for a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and unique lane markings. Explore these crucial insights to navigate these countries confidently and ensure your travels are both enjoyable and secure.
Lanes
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
serbia:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
serbia:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
serbia:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
serbia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
serbia:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
serbia:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
serbia:
N/A
united kingdom:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
serbia:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
serbia:
30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
serbia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
120 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
serbia:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
serbia:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
serbia:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Serbian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
serbia:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by city; check for signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
serbia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
serbia:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| 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
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
serbia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
serbia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
serbia:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
serbia:
112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
united kingdom:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay