Driving Differences: Antigua and Barbuda vs. Costa Rica
When comparing the road regulations of Antigua and Barbuda with those of Costa Rica, notable distinctions emerge that impact traveler safety. Key variations include driving sides—left in Antigua and Barbuda versus right in Costa Rica—as well as speed limits and overtaking practices. Understanding these factors is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Overtaking is done on the right. | 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 | Limited | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses. | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles. | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
Driving Side
antigua and barbuda:
Left
costa rica:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
antigua and barbuda:
No
costa rica:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
antigua and barbuda:
Overtaking is done on the right.
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
antigua and barbuda:
Use leftmost lane.
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
costa rica:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses.
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles.
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Speeds Limits
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-30 mph | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 mph | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-50 mph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-50 mph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-50 mph | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-55 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 50-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 50-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside |
Urban Areas: Standard
antigua and barbuda:
20-30 mph
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
antigua and barbuda:
20 mph
costa rica:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
costa rica:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
costa rica:
80 km/h
Speed Units
antigua and barbuda:
mph
costa rica:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
costa rica:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Yes
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
Signals
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Costa Rica |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border and white background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
antigua and barbuda:
Not used
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
antigua and barbuda:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
Horn Usage: Penalties
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
costa rica:
Fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
antigua and barbuda:
English; symbols are standard
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
antigua and barbuda:
Triangular-shaped with red border and white background
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signed otherwise | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
antigua and barbuda:
Prohibited
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
antigua and barbuda:
Permitted unless signed otherwise
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
Documentation
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required | Annual inspection required; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
antigua and barbuda:
Periodic inspections required
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
antigua and barbuda:
Displayed on vehicle
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
costa rica:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use is common to signal intentions |
| 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
antigua and barbuda:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
antigua and barbuda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance; 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints are used throughout |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties for DUI | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity |
Limits: General Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
0.08%
costa rica:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
Zero tolerance; 0.00%
costa rica:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
antigua and barbuda:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
Enforcement: Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial penalties for DUI
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
Roundabouts
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
antigua and barbuda:
Signal left when preparing to exit
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary | 911 or direct number depending on location |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
antigua and barbuda:
911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
Contact: Roadside Assistance
antigua and barbuda:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
costa rica:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
costa rica:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Antigua and barbuda | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points in some cases | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points in some cases | Fines applicable for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be paid immediately | Common; police may issue fines on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
antigua and barbuda:
Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
antigua and barbuda:
$25 to $200, points in some cases
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
antigua and barbuda:
$50 to $300, points in some cases
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
antigua and barbuda:
$100 to $500, points on license
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Payment: On The Spot
antigua and barbuda:
Yes; fines can be paid immediately
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot