Driving Differences: Brunei vs Dominican Republic
When navigating the roads of Brunei and the Dominican Republic, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journeys. From the left-side driving in Brunei to the right-side rules in the Dominican Republic, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure experience abroad. Explore how speed limits, lane usage, and emergency protocols differ significantly between these two nations.
Lanes
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often not marked. |
Driving Side
brunei:
Left
dominican republic:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brunei:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
brunei:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brunei:
Use leftmost lane.
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
dominican republic:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
Speeds Limits
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
brunei:
50 km/h
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brunei:
40 km/h
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
70-80 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brunei:
70-80 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
70-80 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brunei:
100 km/h
dominican republic:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
80-100 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
brunei:
Yes
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brunei:
Yes
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brunei | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay; English used for important signs | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brunei:
Not used in Brunei
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Horn Usage: Allowed
brunei:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Traffic Signs: Language
brunei:
Malay; English used for important signs
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
brunei:
Not allowed
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brunei:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually required | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not used | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brunei:
Annually required
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brunei:
Not used
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
brunei:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brunei:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brunei:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
dominican republic:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brunei:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
brunei:
Varies; can be substantial
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
brunei:
Can result in license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brunei:
Signal left when preparing to exit
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 991 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
brunei:
991
dominican republic:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brunei:
993
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Brunei | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | B$150 | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | B$300 | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | B$250 | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brunei:
Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brunei:
B$150
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
brunei:
B$300
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brunei:
B$250
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
brunei:
Yes
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
brunei:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days