Driving in Chile vs. Fiji: Key Differences for Safety
When exploring the unique driving customs of Chile and Fiji, significant distinctions emerge that impact traveler safety. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic regulations and emergency protocols, understanding these variances is crucial for a secure journey. Discover how these two countries differ in their approach to road etiquette and vehicular rules, ensuring a safer adventure abroad.
Lanes
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
chile:
Right
fiji:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
Overtaking: On Left
chile:
Yes
fiji:
No
Overtaking: On Right
chile:
Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
fiji:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
chile:
Use rightmost lane.
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
chile:
Yes
fiji:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
fiji:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
chile:
Yes
fiji:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
chile:
Exclusive for bicycles.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
fiji:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 60 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
Urban Areas: Standard
chile:
50 km/h
fiji:
50 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
chile:
40 km/h
fiji:
30 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
100 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
fiji:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
fiji:
60 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
120 km/h
fiji:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
fiji:
90 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
90 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Speed Units
chile:
km/h
fiji:
kph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Signals
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Chile | Not used in Fiji |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
chile:
Not used in Chile
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed only where indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
fiji:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
Documentation
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
chile:
Displayed on windshield
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
chile:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
chile:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Substantial fines, potential loss of license |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
fiji:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
chile:
0.00%
fiji:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
Roundabouts
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
fiji:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
chile:
133
fiji:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; $50 to $500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Mandatory; fines can apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | Fines apply; obey signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days