Driving in South Korea vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of South Korea and Sri Lanka, drivers must be aware of distinct traffic regulations and practices. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and lane usage, this comparison highlights essential distinctions that impact road safety. Understanding these nuances is vital for a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during specified hours. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. | 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 sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
south korea:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
south korea:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
south korea:
60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south korea:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south korea:
100-110 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south korea:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Korea | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Korean; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
south korea:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Documentation
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof must be displayed | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south korea:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| South korea | 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
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
south korea:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
south korea:
0.03%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; often part of the general emergency network | 119 or contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
south korea:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south korea:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South korea | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and license points given | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines and license points given | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and license points given | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and license points given | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south korea:
Fines and license points given
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
south korea:
Fines and license points given
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south korea:
Fines and license points given
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
south korea:
Yes
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot