Driving Differences: Bolivia vs. Netherlands Safety Tips
Exploring the driving landscape of Bolivia and the Netherlands reveals fascinating contrasts. Key distinctions include speed limits, road markings, and the presence of bus lanes. While Bolivia emphasizes flexibility with its driving regulations, the Netherlands prioritizes structured rules, ensuring a safer and more organized experience on the roads. Understanding these variances is crucial for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bolivia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
netherlands:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bolivia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
netherlands:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bolivia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
netherlands:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Netherlands |
| 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 | Dutch; 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
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
netherlands:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
netherlands:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
netherlands:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
Signaling: Entering
bolivia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
netherlands:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required