Cuba vs. Iceland: Unique Driving Cultures Explored
Cuba and Iceland present distinct contrasts in their driving regulations and practices, affecting road safety for travelers. From lane usage and speed limits to emergency contacts and fines, understanding these variations is crucial. While Cuba allows overtaking based on local rules, Iceland enforces stricter guidelines, ensuring a safer experience on its roadways.
Lanes
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; 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.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
iceland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
iceland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 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 on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
iceland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | N/A |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | N/A |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cuba:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
cuba:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
cuba:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
iceland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
cuba:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame