Driving Differences: Bolivia vs North Macedonia Safety Tips
When navigating the roads of Bolivia and North Macedonia, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring safety on your journey. Notable disparities include overtaking rules, speed limits, and the presence of bus lanes. Familiarize yourself with these variations to enhance your driving experience and avoid potential pitfalls abroad.
Lanes
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 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 | 80 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 | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
north macedonia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bolivia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
north macedonia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
bolivia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bolivia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bolivia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Contact local service providers |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay