Driving Differences: Costa Rica vs. Saudi Arabia
When exploring road regulations in Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia, significant contrasts emerge. From speed limits to lane usage, Costa Rica emphasizes lower speeds and shared cycling spaces, while Saudi Arabia boasts strict high-occupancy lanes and zero tolerance for alcohol. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
saudi arabia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| 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 | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
costa rica:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
costa rica:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer