Cuba vs Israel: Understanding Unique Driving Differences
When navigating the roads of Cuba and Israel, understanding the distinct regulations and practices is crucial for a safe journey. Key variations include lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signals, with Israel enforcing stricter rules on overtaking and speed enforcement. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasting norms will enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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. |
| 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.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
israel:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
israel:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
israel:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 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
israel:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
israel:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Used before green light. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Check local numbers |
| 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
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| 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
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay