Driving in Colombia vs. Romania: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique nuances of driving in Colombia and Romania with our comprehensive comparison. From varying speed limits and lane regulations to differing alcohol policies, understanding these distinctions can significantly enhance your travel safety. Navigate the roads confidently, knowing how each country approaches vehicular etiquette and traffic laws.
Lanes
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Not commonly used |
Cycle Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 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 | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
colombia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
romania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
colombia:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist