Driving Differences: Costa Rica vs Trinidad and Tobago
When comparing the road rules of Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago, notable distinctions emerge in lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signals. While Costa Rica drives on the right, Trinidad and Tobago follows the left. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, when safe and permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Marked with signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
trinidad and tobago:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
trinidad and tobago:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
trinidad and tobago:
No
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
trinidad and tobago:
Yes, when safe and permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
trinidad and tobago:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
trinidad and tobago:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
trinidad and tobago:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
Marked with signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
trinidad and tobago:
Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 30-50 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 | 65 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 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 | Common, officers may issue fines directly |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
65 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
trinidad and tobago:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
trinidad and tobago:
Common, officers may issue fines directly
Signals
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Trinidad and Tobago |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; 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
trinidad and tobago:
Not used in Trinidad and Tobago
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
trinidad and tobago:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Headlight Flash: Usage
costa rica:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
trinidad and tobago:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
trinidad and tobago:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
trinidad and tobago:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
trinidad and tobago:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
trinidad and tobago:
Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle |
Insurance
costa rica:
Liability insurance mandatory
trinidad and tobago:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
trinidad and tobago:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
trinidad and tobago:
Displayed on vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Frequent use to communicate in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
costa rica:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
trinidad and tobago:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
trinidad and tobago:
Frequent use to communicate in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
trinidad and tobago:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
trinidad and tobago:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
trinidad and tobago:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
trinidad and tobago:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
trinidad and tobago:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 999 or use local police numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
trinidad and tobago:
999 or 911
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
trinidad and tobago:
999 or use local police numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
trinidad and tobago:
Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
trinidad and tobago:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | TT$ 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | TT$ 1,500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | TT$ 2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
trinidad and tobago:
Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; typically within 15-30 days