Driving in Bolivia vs. Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
When venturing into the roads of Bolivia and Venezuela, understanding the unique driving regulations and practices is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Notably, Bolivia embraces cycle lanes, while Venezuela features designated bus lanes in larger cities. Speed limits also vary significantly, with Venezuela's urban limits ranging from 30 to 60 km/h, compared to Bolivia’s standard of 40 km/h.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 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 | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
venezuela:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
venezuela:
Not used
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
venezuela:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
venezuela:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| 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 | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay