Driving Differences: Belize vs. Cuba Safety Insights
When exploring the unique road regulations of Belize and Cuba, drivers will encounter significant contrasts that impact their travel experience. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Familiarize yourself with the driving customs of both nations to navigate their roads safely and confidently.
Lanes
| Belize | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
Overtaking: On Right
belize:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
belize:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belize:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | 80-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Speed Units
belize:
mph
cuba:
km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Belize | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | Not used in Cuba |
| 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
belize:
Not used in Belize
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belize:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Belize | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Belize | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Belize | 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
belize:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Alcohol
| Belize | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
belize:
0.08%
cuba:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belize:
0.05%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belize:
Zero tolerance
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Belize | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
Contact: General Emergency
belize:
911
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
belize:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay