Driving in Costa Rica vs. Cuba: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Costa Rica and Cuba, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their journey. Key distinctions include overtaking rules, speed limits, and alcohol consumption thresholds. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience in these vibrant destinations.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
costa rica:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
cuba:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
cuba:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
cuba:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Cuba |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | More frequent use than in some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay