Driving Differences: Bolivia vs Fiji Safety Insights
When navigating the roads of Bolivia and Fiji, diversities in traffic regulations and driving customs are evident. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Bolivia and the left in Fiji, as well as varying speed limits and overtaking rules. Understanding these variations is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience while traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bolivia:
Right
fiji:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bolivia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
fiji:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
fiji:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
fiji:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
fiji:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
fiji:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
fiji:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
fiji:
50 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
fiji:
30 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
fiji:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
fiji:
60 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
fiji:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
fiji:
90 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Speed Units
bolivia:
km/h
fiji:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
fiji:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
fiji:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Signals
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Fiji |
| 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; fines can apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
fiji:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Allowed only where indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
fiji:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 vehicle inspections are mandatory |
| 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
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Substantial fines, potential loss of license |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
fiji:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
fiji:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; $50 to $500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Mandatory; fines can apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines apply; obey signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
Common Fines: Alcohol
bolivia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days