Driving in Belize vs. Peru: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Belize and Peru, understanding their unique vehicular regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include the presence of bus and cycle lanes in Peru, varying speed limits, and stricter alcohol limits in Peru. Familiarizing yourself with these crucial variations will elevate your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
peru:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
peru:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
peru:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
peru:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belize:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | 90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
peru:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
peru:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
peru:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
peru:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
peru:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
peru:
90 km/h
Speed Units
belize:
mph
peru:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
peru:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | Not used in Peru |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
belize:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belize:
Not used in Belize
peru:
Not used in Peru
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Typically displayed on vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory
peru:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Often used more compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belize:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | Common; checkpoints used widely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
belize:
0.08%
peru:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belize:
0.05%
peru:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belize:
Zero tolerance
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Enforcement: Fines
belize:
Varies; can be substantial
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belize:
911
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
peru:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
belize:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay