Costa Rica vs Lebanon: Driving Differences Explained
Costa Rica and Lebanon exhibit distinct driving norms that impact road safety and navigation. From unique lane markings to varied speed limits, understanding these disparities is essential for travelers. Familiarizing oneself with the regulations and practices in each country can significantly enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used as a separation line in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
lebanon:
Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
costa rica:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
lebanon:
Used as a separation line in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
lebanon:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
lebanon:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
lebanon:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
lebanon:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
lebanon:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
lebanon:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
lebanon:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| 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
lebanon:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
lebanon:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
lebanon:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
lebanon:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
lebanon:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
lebanon:
Yes
Signals
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Lebanon |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
lebanon:
Not used in Lebanon
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
costa rica:
Signal when exiting
lebanon:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
lebanon:
Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
lebanon:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
lebanon:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lebanon:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lebanon:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
lebanon:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
lebanon:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Horn usage is more frequent 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
lebanon:
Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
lebanon:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common through checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Substantial for violations |
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
lebanon:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
lebanon:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
lebanon:
Common through checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
lebanon:
Substantial for violations
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when preparing to enter |
Signaling: Entering
costa rica:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
lebanon:
Signal when preparing to enter
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Varies; consult your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
lebanon:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
lebanon:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
lebanon:
Varies; consult your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
lebanon:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; may lead to substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Fines and potential incarceration |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Possible; often paid at stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Usually within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
lebanon:
Varies; may lead to substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
lebanon:
Fines and potential incarceration
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
lebanon:
Mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
lebanon:
Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
lebanon:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
lebanon:
Possible; often paid at stations
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
lebanon:
Usually within 15-30 days