Canada vs. Paraguay: Driving Differences You Should Know
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring safety. This comparison between Canada and Paraguay reveals distinct disparities in lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol regulations. While both nations prioritize pedestrian rights, Canada emphasizes variable speed limits, whereas Paraguay maintains stricter alcohol limits for professional drivers. Stay informed to navigate these roads confidently!
Lanes
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
paraguay:
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.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
paraguay:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90-100 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 | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
canada:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
paraguay:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
canada:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
paraguay:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days