Driving Differences: Sri Lanka vs. Turkey Explained
Exploring the roads of Sri Lanka and Turkey reveals fascinating contrasts in their driving regulations and practices. From the left-hand driving in Sri Lanka to Turkey's right-side orientation, these countries present unique challenges. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations, all crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad.
Lanes
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
sri lanka:
Left
turkey:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
turkey:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
sri lanka:
No
turkey:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
sri lanka:
No
turkey:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
turkey:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
N/A
turkey:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
sri lanka:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
70 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
60 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
60 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
100 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
80 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
80 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
sri lanka:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Sri Lanka | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| 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 | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Hand Signals: Common Usage
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
turkey:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
sri lanka:
Not allowed
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
sri lanka:
0.06%
turkey:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
sri lanka:
0.04%
turkey:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
turkey:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 119 or contact local police | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
sri lanka:
119
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Sri lanka | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; expect substantial fines | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applied; amount may vary | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applied; amount may vary | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied; amount may vary | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges