Driving in Bhutan vs. Cuba: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the contrasting road rules of Bhutan and Cuba, drivers will encounter significant variations in vehicle operation and traffic regulations. From the left-side driving in Bhutan to Cuba's right-hand system, understanding these key distinctions is essential for safe travel. Prepare yourself for unique speed limits, overtaking customs, and emergency protocols in these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | 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. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
cuba:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
cuba:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bhutan:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | 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
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by area, check for local signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | 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
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
cuba:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay