Driving in Cuba vs. Kazakhstan: Key Differences Explained
When traversing the roads of Cuba and Kazakhstan, drivers will encounter notable variations in regulations and practices that impact their journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, overtaking rules, and alcohol thresholds, which are crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Understanding these contrasts is essential for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Lanes
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with specific signs and road markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Varies by region |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles where present. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes 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.
kazakhstan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
kazakhstan:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
kazakhstan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
kazakhstan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
kazakhstan:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
kazakhstan:
Labeled with specific signs and road markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
kazakhstan:
Varies by region
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
kazakhstan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
kazakhstan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
kazakhstan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
kazakhstan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 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 | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
kazakhstan:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
kazakhstan:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
kazakhstan:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
kazakhstan:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
kazakhstan:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
kazakhstan:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
kazakhstan:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Kazakhstan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
kazakhstan:
Not used in Kazakhstan
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
kazakhstan:
Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
kazakhstan:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
kazakhstan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Moderate use |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
kazakhstan:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| 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 in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
kazakhstan:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
kazakhstan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
kazakhstan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
kazakhstan:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Call 102 |
| 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
kazakhstan:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
kazakhstan:
Call 102
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
kazakhstan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
kazakhstan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Kazakhstan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply for handheld use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks |
| 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
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for handheld use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
kazakhstan:
Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
kazakhstan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay