Driving in Cuba vs. Italy: Key Differences You Should Know
When traveling abroad, understanding the unique road regulations is crucial for your well-being. This comparison between Cuba and Italy reveals notable distinctions: from lane markings and speed limits to alcohol policies and emergency contacts. Discover how these variations can impact your journey and ensure a safer driving experience in these two fascinating nations.
Lanes
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
italy:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
italy:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
italy:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
italy:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
italy:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
italy:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
italy:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
italy:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
italy:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days