Driving Differences: Belgium vs Cuba - What You Need to Know
When navigating the roads of Belgium and Cuba, it's essential to understand the distinct traffic regulations and driving customs that ensure a safe journey. From lane markings to speed limits, notable contrasts exist, such as Belgium's use of bus lanes and variable speed limits, while Cuba emphasizes local signage and unique overtaking rules. Stay informed to drive safely abroad!
Lanes
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | 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; specific hours may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
belgium:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
cuba:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
cuba:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
cuba:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
cuba:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
cuba:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
cuba:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
cuba:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belgium:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Cuba |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | 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 | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use than in some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Alcohol
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | 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
belgium:
112
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay