Driving in Bolivia vs. Ireland: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving practices of Bolivia and Ireland, where road regulations and safety measures vary significantly. From the side of the road you navigate to speed limits and overtaking rules, understanding these nuances is crucial for safe travel. Prepare for an enlightening comparison that ensures your journey remains secure and enjoyable in both countries.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtake on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bolivia:
Right
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bolivia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
ireland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| 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 | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
ireland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
ireland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
ireland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
ireland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
ireland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bolivia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bolivia:
Signal when exiting
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
ireland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
ireland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Random breath testing is common. |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
ireland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | €60 fine and two penalty points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | €60 fine and three penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Possible; fines can be issued 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
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay