Driving in Costa Rica vs Madagascar: Key Safety Tips
When navigating the roads of Costa Rica and Madagascar, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and customs that significantly impact their travels. From lane usage and speed limits to horn etiquette and alcohol regulations, understanding these contrasts is essential for safe and enjoyable journeys in both nations. Explore these crucial distinctions to enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
costa rica:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
costa rica:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
costa rica:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
costa rica:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
costa rica:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
costa rica:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
costa rica:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
costa rica:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
costa rica:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
costa rica:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority