Driving Differences: Costa Rica vs. France
Discover the diverse driving landscapes of Costa Rica and France in our comprehensive comparison. While both countries emphasize road safety, notable contrasts emerge in lane usage, speed regulations, and documentation requirements. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
costa rica:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
france:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
france:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
france:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
france:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
france:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
france:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
france:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
france:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in France |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| 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
france:
Not used in France
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
costa rica:
Signal when exiting
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
france:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
france:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
france:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits |
| 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 required | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
france:
Accepted for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
france:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
france:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
france:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering if turning right |
Signaling: Entering
costa rica:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 17 or through local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
france:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
france:
17 or through local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
france:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | €135 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | €135 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | €135 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 45 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
france:
€135
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
france:
€135
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
france:
€135
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay