Driving in Argentina vs. Cuba: Key Safety Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the unique driving regulations of your destination is essential for ensuring road safety. In this comparison between Argentina and Cuba, we explore notable contrasts, including overtaking rules, speed limits, and documentation requirements. Discover how these differences can impact your driving experience in these vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
argentina:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
cuba:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
cuba:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
cuba:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
argentina:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Cuba |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | More frequent use than in some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Alcohol
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay