Driving Safety: Costa Rica vs. Serbia - Key Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring safety. This comparison between Costa Rica and Serbia reveals significant distinctions, particularly in lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol regulations. While Costa Rica exhibits more flexible driving norms, Serbia emphasizes stricter enforcement and defined lanes, making awareness essential for travelers.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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'; often with road signs. |
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
serbia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
serbia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
serbia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
serbia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Serbia |
| 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 | Serbian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Varies by city; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay