Driving in Slovakia vs. United Kingdom: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Slovakia and the United Kingdom, understanding the variations in traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring your safety. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Slovakia versus the left in the UK, unique speed limits, and diverse lane markings. Familiarizing yourself with these factors will enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Slovakia | 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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. |
Driving Side
slovakia:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
slovakia:
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
slovakia:
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
slovakia:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
slovakia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
slovakia:
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]
slovakia:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
slovakia:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
slovakia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
slovakia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
slovakia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
slovakia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
slovakia:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
Speeds Limits
| Slovakia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
slovakia:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
slovakia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
slovakia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
slovakia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
slovakia:
130 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
slovakia:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
slovakia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
slovakia:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
slovakia:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Slovakia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Slovakia | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Slovak; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
slovakia:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Slovakia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
slovakia:
Not allowed
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
slovakia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
slovakia:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Slovakia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with local license | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and regular inspections required | 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
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
slovakia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
slovakia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Slovakia | 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
slovakia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Slovakia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
slovakia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
slovakia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
slovakia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
slovakia:
Can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Slovakia | 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
slovakia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
slovakia:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Slovakia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 158 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service | 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
slovakia:
112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
slovakia:
158
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
slovakia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
slovakia:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Slovakia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €50 to €150, points in some regions | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100 to €200, points in some regions | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €100 to €250, points on license possible | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
slovakia:
Common
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay