Driving Safety: Bolivia vs. Cuba - Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Bolivia and Cuba, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. From lane usage and speed limits to emergency protocols, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience. Explore the contrasting rules and customs that define each country's approach to vehicular travel.
Lanes
| Bolivia | 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 | 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. |
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bolivia:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 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 | 50-70 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Bolivia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Cuba |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
cuba:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bolivia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Sticker | Displayed on the 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
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use than in some countries |
| 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
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | 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
bolivia:
911
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay