Driving Differences: Costa Rica vs. Tunisia Safety Tips
Costa Rica and Tunisia present unique driving landscapes, each with distinct regulations and cultural norms. From the allowance of right-side overtaking in Costa Rica to Tunisia's prohibition on right turns at red lights, understanding these contrasts is essential for safe navigation. Explore how speed limits, road etiquette, and documentation requirements vary between these two fascinating countries.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 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 | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
tunisia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not typically used |
| 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 and French; 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
tunisia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
costa rica:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay