Driving in Croatia vs. Dominican Republic: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Croatia and the Dominican Republic, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safety abroad. Discover the key contrasts in traffic norms and driving etiquette between these two captivating destinations.
Lanes
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Often not marked. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
dominican republic:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
croatia:
50 km/h
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
dominican republic:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
croatia:
Yes
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
dominican republic:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
croatia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
croatia:
Not allowed
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
dominican republic:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
dominican republic:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
Use Of Horn: Limited
croatia:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Alcohol
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
croatia:
112
dominican republic:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days