Driving in Costa Rica vs. Russia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Costa Rica and Russia, understanding their distinctive driving regulations is crucial for safe travel. Notable disparities include speed limits, road lane usage, and alcohol tolerance. This guide explores these variations, ensuring you stay informed and secure while driving abroad in these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
russia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
russia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 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; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
russia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Russia |
| 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 | Russian; 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
russia:
Not used in Russia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
russia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.035% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
russia:
0.035%
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
russia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay