Driving in Costa Rica vs Uganda: Key Safety Differences
Costa Rica and Uganda offer distinct driving experiences, each shaped by unique regulations and cultural norms. Key variations include driving on opposite sides of the road, differing speed limits, and the use of emergency services. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed |
| 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 sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
costa rica:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
uganda:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
uganda:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
uganda:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
uganda:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Uganda |
| 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 | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
uganda:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Frequent use in certain situations |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket