Driving in Costa Rica vs. Romania: Key Differences Explained
Costa Rica and Romania present unique challenges and regulations for motorists. While Costa Rica permits right turns on red and has varied speed limits across urban and rural areas, Romania enforces stricter alcohol limits and mandates reflective vests. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience in each nation.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| 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: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Not commonly used |
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
romania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
romania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
romania:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; 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, periodic inspections required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
costa rica:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist