Driving in Bolivia vs. Philippines: Key Differences Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads, Bolivia and the Philippines showcase distinct driving customs and regulations. Key distinctions include lane usage, speed limits, and enforcement methods. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience while driving in either country. Discover how these two nations approach road safety and etiquette.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
philippines:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 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 | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
bolivia:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
philippines:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used |
| 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 | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
philippines:
Not used
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
philippines:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
philippines:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
bolivia:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance