Canada vs. Colombia: Driving Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Canada and Colombia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and customs that impact their travel experience. Key differences include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol consumption thresholds. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each country’s unique driving environment.
Lanes
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not applicable |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
colombia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
colombia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
colombia:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
colombia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
colombia:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
colombia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
colombia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
colombia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
colombia:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
colombia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
colombia:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
colombia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
colombia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
colombia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
colombia:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
Signals
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Colombia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
colombia:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
colombia:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
colombia:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
canada:
Can result in license suspension
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 123 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 123 or local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
colombia:
123
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
colombia:
123 or local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | $100 to $300, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations