Driving in Antigua and Barbuda vs. Guatemala: Key Differences
When exploring the contrasting road regulations between Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala, travelers must stay informed. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Antigua compared to the right in Guatemala, and varying speed limits across urban and rural areas. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe and smooth journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles. | Shared with vehicles in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Varies by location. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
antigua and barbuda:
Left
guatemala:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
antigua and barbuda:
No
guatemala:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
antigua and barbuda:
Overtaking is done on the right.
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
antigua and barbuda:
Use leftmost lane.
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
guatemala:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses.
guatemala:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles.
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
guatemala:
Varies by location.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-30 mph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 mph | 30 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 | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
antigua and barbuda:
20-30 mph
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
antigua and barbuda:
20 mph
guatemala:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
guatemala:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
guatemala:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
guatemala:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
guatemala:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
guatemala:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
guatemala:
80 km/h
Speed Units
antigua and barbuda:
mph
guatemala:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
guatemala:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Yes
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Guatemala |
| 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
Horn Usage: Penalties
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
guatemala:
Fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
antigua and barbuda:
English; symbols are standard
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
antigua and barbuda:
Triangular-shaped with red border and white background
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Varies, check local signs for permission |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signed otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
antigua and barbuda:
Prohibited
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
U- Turns Allowed
antigua and barbuda:
Permitted unless signed otherwise
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
antigua and barbuda:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
antigua and barbuda:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
antigua and barbuda:
Periodic inspections required
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
antigua and barbuda:
Displayed on vehicle
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less 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
antigua and barbuda:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
antigua and barbuda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance; 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties for DUI | Varies by locality; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
0.08%
guatemala:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
Zero tolerance; 0.00%
guatemala:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
antigua and barbuda:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial penalties for DUI
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
antigua and barbuda:
911
guatemala:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
antigua and barbuda:
911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary
guatemala:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
antigua and barbuda:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Antigua and barbuda | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points | Varies; substantial fines |
| 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 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points in some cases | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be paid immediately | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; check with local authorities |
Common Fines: Speeding
antigua and barbuda:
Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
antigua and barbuda:
$25 to $200, points in some cases
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
antigua and barbuda:
$50 to $300, points in some cases
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
antigua and barbuda:
$100 to $500, points on license
guatemala:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
antigua and barbuda:
Yes; fines can be paid immediately
guatemala:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
antigua and barbuda:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities