Driving in South Korea vs. Uzbekistan: Key Differences
When traversing the roads of South Korea and Uzbekistan, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. Key distinctions include lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance, highlighting the importance of understanding local norms for a secure journey. Prepare for your adventure by exploring these essential driving contrasts!
Lanes
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Typically used to separate opposing traffic on undivided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | Generally discouraged, unless unavoidable. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane where possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during specified hours. | Reserved for buses in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. | Labeled 'BUS'; often indicated by signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mostly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles where present. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | May have bicycle symbols or distinct paint. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
uzbekistan:
Typically used to separate opposing traffic on undivided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
uzbekistan:
Generally discouraged, unless unavoidable.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
south korea:
List length: 5
uzbekistan:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
uzbekistan:
Use the rightmost lane where possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
uzbekistan:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
uzbekistan:
Reserved for buses in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
uzbekistan:
Labeled 'BUS'; often indicated by signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
uzbekistan:
Limited, mostly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uzbekistan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
uzbekistan:
May have bicycle symbols or distinct paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
uzbekistan:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
uzbekistan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
uzbekistan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; issued by traffic police |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
80-100 km/h
uzbekistan:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south korea:
80-100 km/h
uzbekistan:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
60-80 km/h
uzbekistan:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
100-120 km/h
uzbekistan:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south korea:
100-110 km/h
uzbekistan:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
80-100 km/h
uzbekistan:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
uzbekistan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south korea:
Yes
uzbekistan:
Yes; issued by traffic police
Signals
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Korea | Not used in Uzbekistan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged at night in residential areas |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Generally uncommon, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Korean; symbols are standard | Uzbek and Russian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
uzbekistan:
Not used in Uzbekistan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
south korea:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
uzbekistan:
Discouraged at night in residential areas
Headlight Flash: Usage
south korea:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
uzbekistan:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Hand Signals: Common Usage
south korea:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
uzbekistan:
Generally uncommon, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
uzbekistan:
Uzbek and Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
uzbekistan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
uzbekistan:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
uzbekistan:
Allowed except where prohibited by signs
Documentation
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof must be displayed | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
uzbekistan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
uzbekistan:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
uzbekistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Generally more frequent due to local driving habits |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
south korea:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
uzbekistan:
Encouraged
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
uzbekistan:
Generally more frequent due to local driving habits
Alcohol
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance for drivers under 21 |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used | Common; checkpoints are frequently utilized |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity of infraction |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
south korea:
0.03%
uzbekistan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
uzbekistan:
0.00%; zero tolerance for drivers under 21
Enforcement: Random Checks
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
uzbekistan:
Common; checkpoints are frequently utilized
Enforcement: Fines
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
uzbekistan:
Substantial, varies by severity of infraction
Test Refusal
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
uzbekistan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 103 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; often part of the general emergency network | 102 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
south korea:
112
uzbekistan:
103
Contact: Traffic Police
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
uzbekistan:
102
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
uzbekistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South korea | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and license points given | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines and license points given | Fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and license points given | Fines for using phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and license points given | Fines issued, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not typical; fines often paid through bank or office |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible for severe violations or unpaid fines |
Common Fines: Speeding
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
uzbekistan:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south korea:
Fines and license points given
uzbekistan:
Fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
south korea:
Fines and license points given
uzbekistan:
Fines for using phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south korea:
Fines and license points given
uzbekistan:
Fines issued, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
south korea:
Yes
uzbekistan:
Not typical; fines often paid through bank or office
Payment: Deadline
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uzbekistan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
south korea:
Possible if fines are not paid
uzbekistan:
Possible for severe violations or unpaid fines