Driving in Sri Lanka vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When comparing Sri Lanka and Thailand, notable distinctions emerge in their road regulations and driving customs. From unique lane markings to varying speed limits, each nation presents its own set of traffic norms. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe and responsible journey in either country.
Lanes
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed when safe. | Prohibited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
sri lanka:
No
thailand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
thailand:
Prohibited
Bus Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
sri lanka:
No
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
N/A
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
sri lanka:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
sri lanka:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
70 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
60 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
60 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Sri Lanka | Not used in Thailand |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used more frequently in rural areas | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Hand Signals: Common Usage
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
thailand:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Road Etiquette
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
sri lanka:
0.06%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
sri lanka:
0.04%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Lane Usage: Left
sri lanka:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 119 or contact local police | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
Contact: General Emergency
sri lanka:
119
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Penalties And Fines
| Sri lanka | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; expect substantial fines | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applied; amount may vary | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applied; amount may vary | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied; amount may vary | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days