Cuba vs Mexico: Key Driving Differences You Should Know
Cuba and Mexico present unique vehicular landscapes, each with its own rules and regulations. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol tolerance levels. While Cuba mandates an annual vehicle inspection, Mexico emphasizes roadside assistance options. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience in both nations.
Lanes
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| 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.
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
mexico:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
mexico:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
mexico:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 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 | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 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 | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
mexico:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
mexico:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
mexico:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
mexico:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
mexico:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
mexico:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments