Driving in Colombia vs. Denmark: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between Colombia and Denmark. While Colombia permits overtaking on multi-lane roads, Denmark enforces strict traffic rules and variable speed limits. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used temporarily in construction zones. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
colombia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
denmark:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 110-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Yes, for minor offenses. |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
denmark:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
denmark:
110-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
denmark:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
denmark:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
Signals
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Used before green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Danish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
denmark:
Used before green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
colombia:
Signal when exiting
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
denmark:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
denmark:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
colombia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
Documentation
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
denmark:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
denmark:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; carried out by the police |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
denmark:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
denmark:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
denmark:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking any exit other than first |
Signaling: Entering
colombia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Contact your insurer or patrol services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
denmark:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines apply, use of hands-free required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Significant fines and possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days