Driving in Costa Rica vs. Ivory Coast: Key Differences
When venturing into the roads of Costa Rica and Ivory Coast, understanding their unique regulations and practices is vital for a secure journey. From varying speed limits to the presence of dedicated bus and cycle lanes, each country presents distinct rules. Familiarize yourself with these driving contrasts to ensure a safe and enjoyable travel experience.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Typically 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, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Not applicable |
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
ivory coast:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
ivory coast:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes, for some infractions. |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
ivory coast:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
ivory coast:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
ivory coast:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| 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
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
ivory coast:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
costa rica:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
costa rica:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| 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: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated