Driving in Chile vs. Estonia: Essential Safety Tips
When venturing abroad, understanding driving regulations is crucial for ensuring safety. This comparison between Chile and Estonia reveals distinct variations, from lane markings and speed limits to alcohol regulations. Notably, Chile permits right turns on red, whereas Estonia restricts them, emphasizing the importance of being well-informed before hitting the road in foreign territories.
Lanes
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
estonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
chile:
Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
chile:
No
estonia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
chile:
40 km/h
estonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
100 km/h
estonia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
estonia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
estonia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
120 km/h
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
Highways: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
90 km/h
estonia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
chile:
No
estonia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
estonia:
Yes
Signals
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Chile | Not used in Estonia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Estonian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
chile:
Amber
estonia:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
chile:
Not used in Chile
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
estonia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Required every year; proof must be carried |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
chile:
Displayed on windshield
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Alcohol
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
estonia:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
estonia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
chile:
133
estonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
estonia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; substantial fines apply |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
estonia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties