Driving in Bangladesh vs Dominican Republic: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Bangladesh and the Dominican Republic, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices. Key differences include driving on the left in Bangladesh versus the right in the Dominican Republic, as well as varying speed limits and traffic signal interpretations. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on some roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed. | 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 | Yes, in major cities | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles generally use the edge of the road. | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often not marked. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bangladesh:
Left
dominican republic:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Marks the right edge on some roads.
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe.
dominican republic:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bangladesh:
Generally not allowed.
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bangladesh:
Use leftmost lane.
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
Yes, in major cities
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
Often marked with road signs.
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
No
dominican republic:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Bicycles generally use the edge of the road.
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
N/A
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bangladesh:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bangladesh:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major areas | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
bangladesh:
25-50 km/h
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bangladesh:
30 km/h
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
50-70 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
dominican republic:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
dominican republic:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bangladesh:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bangladesh:
Yes, in major areas
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bangladesh:
Yes, common practice
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bangladesh | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bengali; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bangladesh:
Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles
dominican republic:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bangladesh:
Not used in Bangladesh
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Horn Usage: Allowed
bangladesh:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bangladesh:
Unnecessary use discouraged
dominican republic:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bangladesh:
Bengali; symbols are standard
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bangladesh:
Triangular-shaped with red border
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly permitted | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area; check for signs | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bangladesh:
Not commonly permitted
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bangladesh:
Varies by area; check for signs
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually, proof displayed on vehicle | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bangladesh:
International Driving Permit recommended
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bangladesh:
International Driving Permit recommended
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bangladesh:
Annually, proof displayed on vehicle
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bangladesh:
Displayed on windshield
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
bangladesh:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bangladesh:
Frequent use compared to some countries
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bangladesh:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in checkpoints | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by offense | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
dominican republic:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bangladesh:
Common in checkpoints
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
bangladesh:
Substantial, varies by offense
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
bangladesh:
Can result in license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bangladesh:
Signal left when preparing to exit
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
bangladesh:
9999
dominican republic:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bangladesh:
Contact local police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bangladesh:
Check with your insurance provider
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Bangladesh | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can include fines and points | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable, varies by enforcement | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, varies by enforcement | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies depending on the severity of the violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | More common than in the USA | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bangladesh:
Varies; can include fines and points
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Alcohol
bangladesh:
Substantial fines, possible imprisonment
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bangladesh:
Fines applicable, varies by enforcement
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bangladesh:
Fines apply, varies by enforcement
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bangladesh:
Varies depending on the severity of the violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
bangladesh:
More common than in the USA
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
bangladesh:
Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days