Driving Differences: Costa Rica vs. Georgia
When navigating the roads of Costa Rica and Georgia, understanding the distinct driving regulations is crucial for ensuring your safety. With unique aspects such as bus lanes, variable speed limits, and legal alcohol limits, each country offers a different driving experience. Discover the key contrasts between these two vibrant nations to drive confidently and responsibly.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
georgia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
georgia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
georgia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 110-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90-100 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 | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
georgia:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
georgia:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
georgia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
georgia:
110-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
georgia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
georgia:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
georgia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
georgia:
Yes
Signals
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Georgian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
georgia:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
georgia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
georgia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
georgia:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
georgia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
georgia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | 50 GEL |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | 10 GEL |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | 200 GEL |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Possible; but usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
georgia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
georgia:
50 GEL
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
georgia:
10 GEL
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
georgia:
200 GEL
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days