Driving Differences: Colombia vs United Arab Emirates
Discover the unique contrasts in road regulations between Colombia and the United Arab Emirates. While both nations impose speed limits and enforce penalties, Colombia allows overtaking on multi-lane roads, whereas the UAE implements variable speed limits and stricter alcohol regulations. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for safe travel abroad.
Lanes
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
colombia:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
colombia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 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. | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
colombia:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
colombia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
united arab emirates:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay