Cuba vs. Guatemala: Driving Differences You Should Know
Cuba and Guatemala present unique contrasts in their road regulations and driving practices. From speed limits to lane usage and emergency equipment requirements, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. This comparison highlights essential variations that travelers should be aware of to navigate each country’s roads with confidence.
Lanes
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Shared with vehicles in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Varies by location. |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
guatemala:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
guatemala:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
guatemala:
Varies by location.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
guatemala:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
guatemala:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
guatemala:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
guatemala:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Guatemala |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies, check local signs for permission |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by locality; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
guatemala:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
guatemala:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
guatemala:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
guatemala:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; check with local authorities |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
guatemala:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
guatemala:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities