Driving in Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Argentina or Saudi Arabia, understanding the nuances of each country's traffic regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include Argentina's extensive bus and cycle lanes versus Saudi Arabia's high-occupancy lanes. Additionally, differing speed limits and stringent alcohol laws further underscore the need for awareness while driving abroad.
Lanes
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
argentina:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
argentina:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
argentina:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer