Driving in Cambodia vs. Cuba: Key Safety Differences
The driving landscape in Cambodia and Cuba showcases intriguing contrasts that every traveler should understand for a secure journey. Key distinctions include lane usage regulations, speed limits, and alcohol enforcement. Whether you’re navigating the bustling streets of Phnom Penh or Havana, being aware of these variations is essential for ensuring a smooth and safe experience on the road.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cambodia:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cambodia:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Cuba |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | More frequent use than in some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay