Driving in Singapore vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
The driving regulations between Singapore and Sri Lanka reveal significant contrasts that are crucial for travelers. From lane usage to speed limits, Singapore emphasizes strict rules while Sri Lanka offers more flexibility. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and compliant journey in both regions.
Lanes
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Allowed when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| 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 |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Overtaking: On Left
singapore:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
singapore:
Not allowed.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Bus Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
singapore:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
singapore:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
singapore:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
singapore:
40 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
singapore:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
singapore:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
singapore:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Singapore | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
singapore:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
singapore:
Not allowed.
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Display not required | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
singapore:
Display not required
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
Flashing Lights: Usage
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
sri lanka:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
sri lanka:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Alcohol
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
singapore:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
singapore:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 995 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
singapore:
995
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
singapore:
999
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Singapore | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, demerit points | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $120, demerit points for non-compliance | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $200 to $500, demerit points | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay