Driving in Cuba vs. Georgia: Key Safety Differences
Discovering the nuances of navigating the roads in Cuba and Georgia reveals intriguing contrasts in traffic regulations and driving culture. While Cuba emphasizes adherence to localized rules and infrequent use of bus lanes, Georgia embraces modern features like variable speed limits and dedicated cycling paths. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable travel experience.
Lanes
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
georgia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
georgia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
georgia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
georgia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 110-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
georgia:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
georgia:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
georgia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
georgia:
110-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
georgia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
georgia:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
georgia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
georgia:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Georgian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
georgia:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
georgia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
georgia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
georgia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
georgia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
georgia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
georgia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | 50 GEL |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | 10 GEL |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | 200 GEL |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible; but usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
georgia:
50 GEL
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
georgia:
10 GEL
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
georgia:
200 GEL
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days