Driving Differences: Bolivia vs. Costa Rica Safety Tips
When navigating the roads of Bolivia and Costa Rica, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences. From speed limits and lane usage to emergency protocols, each country presents unique challenges and norms. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe and responsible travel abroad.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
costa rica:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
costa rica:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
costa rica:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
costa rica:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
costa rica:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
costa rica:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
Signals
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Costa Rica |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
costa rica:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
Documentation
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
costa rica:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use is common to signal intentions |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common; checkpoints are used throughout |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity |
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
costa rica:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 911 or direct number depending on location |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
costa rica:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | Fines applicable for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Common; police may issue fines on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
bolivia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay