Driving in Sri Lanka vs. Venezuela: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the nuances of road regulations between Sri Lanka and Venezuela reveals significant contrasts in driving practices. From the side of the road you navigate to speed limits and signaling techniques, understanding these disparities is vital for ensuring your safety and compliance while traveling in these diverse countries. Prepare for a unique driving experience!
Lanes
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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 | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. | N/A |
Driving Side
sri lanka:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
sri lanka:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
sri lanka:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
sri lanka:
No
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
sri lanka:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
sri lanka:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
70 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
60 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
80 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Sri Lanka | Not used |
| 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
venezuela:
Not used
Hand Signals: Common Usage
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
venezuela:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
sri lanka:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Fairly common |
Limits: General Drivers
sri lanka:
0.06%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
sri lanka:
0.04%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
venezuela:
Fairly common
Roundabouts
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 119 or contact local police | 171 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
sri lanka:
119
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
venezuela:
171
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Sri lanka | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; expect substantial fines | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applied; amount may vary | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applied; amount may vary | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied; amount may vary | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible