Driving in Cuba vs. Madagascar: A Safety Guide
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices between Cuba and Madagascar. While both nations share unique driving experiences, key distinctions arise in speed limits, lane markings, and overtaking rules. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safe travel and navigating local roads with confidence.
Lanes
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
madagascar:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
cuba:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
cuba:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
cuba:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
cuba:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
cuba:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Indication may vary |
| 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
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
cuba:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
cuba:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
cuba:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
cuba:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority