Driving in Cuba vs. Ireland: Key Safety Differences
Cuba and Ireland present fascinating contrasts in their roadway regulations and driving practices. Notably, Cuba drives on the right while Ireland adheres to the left. Speed limits, signaling systems, and lane usage differ significantly, impacting road safety. Understanding these distinctions is vital for a secure and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtake on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use leftmost 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 |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
cuba:
Yes
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
ireland:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
ireland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
ireland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
ireland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 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 | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
ireland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
ireland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
ireland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
ireland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
ireland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
ireland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
cuba:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cuba:
Signal when exiting
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Random breath testing is common. |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
ireland:
Required
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €60 fine and two penalty points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €60 fine and three penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay