Driving Differences: Antigua and Barbuda vs. Dominican Republic
When exploring the distinct driving landscapes of Antigua and Barbuda and the Dominican Republic, travelers will encounter notable contrasts in traffic regulations and road etiquette. From the left-side driving in Antigua to the right-side rules in the Dominican Republic, understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Discover key insights into speed limits, lane usage, and more to drive safely in both nations.
Lanes
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses. | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles. | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often not marked. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
antigua and barbuda:
Left
dominican republic:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
antigua and barbuda:
No
dominican republic:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
antigua and barbuda:
Overtaking is done on the right.
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
antigua and barbuda:
Use leftmost lane.
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses.
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles.
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-30 mph | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 mph | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-50 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-50 mph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-50 mph | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-55 mph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 50-55 mph | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 50-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
antigua and barbuda:
20-30 mph
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
antigua and barbuda:
20 mph
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
dominican republic:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
dominican republic:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Speed Units
antigua and barbuda:
mph
dominican republic:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Yes
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| 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 | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
antigua and barbuda:
Not used
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Horn Usage: Allowed
antigua and barbuda:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Horn Usage: Penalties
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
dominican republic:
Fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
antigua and barbuda:
English; symbols are standard
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
antigua and barbuda:
Triangular-shaped with red border and white background
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signed otherwise | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
antigua and barbuda:
Prohibited
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
antigua and barbuda:
Permitted unless signed otherwise
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
antigua and barbuda:
Periodic inspections required
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
antigua and barbuda:
Displayed on vehicle
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
antigua and barbuda:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
antigua and barbuda:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
antigua and barbuda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance; 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties for DUI | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
0.08%
dominican republic:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
Zero tolerance; 0.00%
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
antigua and barbuda:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial penalties for DUI
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
antigua and barbuda:
Can result in license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: Traffic Police
antigua and barbuda:
911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Antigua and barbuda | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points in some cases | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points in some cases | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be paid immediately | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
antigua and barbuda:
Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Alcohol
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
antigua and barbuda:
$25 to $200, points in some cases
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
antigua and barbuda:
$50 to $300, points in some cases
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
antigua and barbuda:
$100 to $500, points on license
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
antigua and barbuda:
Yes; fines can be paid immediately
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
antigua and barbuda:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days