Driving in Spain vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Spain and Sri Lanka, drivers encounter striking variations in regulations and practices. From driving sides to speed limits, understanding these distinctions is vital for a secure journey. While Spain favors right-hand driving and variable speed limits, Sri Lanka adheres to left-hand navigation with unique overtaking rules. Stay informed for safer travels!
Lanes
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
spain:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
spain:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 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 | Yes, commonly used | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
spain:
20-30 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
spain:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
spain:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
spain:
Yes, commonly used
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Spain | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with white background and red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
spain:
Not used in Spain
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
spain:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must carry license. | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required. | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield in some areas. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory. | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory. | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
spain:
Mandatory.
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory.
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Used more frequently in urgent situations | 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Spain | 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; checkpoints frequently used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe penalties, including high fines | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
spain:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
spain:
0.03%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
spain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check with local authorities | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or RACE | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
spain:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
spain:
Check with local authorities
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
spain:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Spain | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines and potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €200, mandatory use | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €200, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €200, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; discount if paid promptly. | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
spain:
€200, mandatory use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
spain:
€200, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
spain:
€200, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot