Driving in Australia vs. Cuba: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Australia and Cuba, drivers must navigate distinct traffic customs and regulations. Key differences include driving on the left in Australia versus the right in Cuba, unique lane markings, and varying speed limits. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey in both vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
cuba:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
cuba:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
australia:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
cuba:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
cuba:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
cuba:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
cuba:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
cuba:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
cuba:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
cuba:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
cuba:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
cuba:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
australia:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Cuba |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
cuba:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use than in 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
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
cuba:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
cuba:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay