Driving in Cuba vs. Cyprus: Key Differences Explained
Explore the distinct driving regulations and practices in Cuba and Cyprus to enhance your road safety while traveling. Key distinctions include driving sides, speed limits, and road markings. Understanding these variations will help ensure a smooth journey in both nations, allowing you to navigate their unique road environments with confidence.
Lanes
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Prohibited. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Usually reserved for public transport. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
cyprus:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
cyprus:
Prohibited.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
cyprus:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
cyprus:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
cyprus:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 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 | 50-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
cyprus:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
cyprus:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
cyprus:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
cyprus:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Cyprus |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cuba:
Signal when exiting
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits without additional permits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
cyprus:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
cyprus:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used routinely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial and strict |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately |
Signaling: Entering
cuba:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
cyprus:
Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
cyprus:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
cyprus:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Strict enforcement, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Substantial fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay