Driving Differences: Argentina vs Romania Explained
When navigating the roads of Argentina and Romania, drivers encounter distinct variations in regulations and practices. From speed limits in urban areas to the presence of bus lanes, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison highlights critical contrasts in traffic management and road etiquette that every traveler should be aware of.
Lanes
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
argentina:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
argentina:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist