Driving in Cuba vs. El Salvador: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Cuba and El Salvador as we delve into their distinct road regulations and safety practices. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and penalties, this comparison reveals vital distinctions that every traveler should know to ensure a secure journey in these vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| 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 colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
el salvador:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
el salvador:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
el salvador:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
el salvador:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not common in El Salvador |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cuba:
Signal when exiting
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use in some areas to communicate |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Yield and make way |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
el salvador:
Yield and make way
Alcohol
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and penalties |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
el salvador:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
el salvador:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
Emergency Services
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 120 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | 121 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
el salvador:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
el salvador:
120
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
el salvador:
121
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; $20 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $20 to $50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $30 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $50 to $200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes, frequently enforced |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
el salvador:
$20 to $50
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
el salvador:
$30 to $100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
el salvador:
$50 to $200
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay