Driving in Cuba vs. Morocco: Key Differences Explained
When venturing into the vibrant roads of Cuba and Morocco, understanding the unique driving regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions arise in speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol thresholds. While Cuba emphasizes local customs, Morocco showcases structured enforcement, highlighting the importance of familiarity with each nation's distinct vehicular practices for a safe adventure abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Limited |
| 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 | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and 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.
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
morocco:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
morocco:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Morocco |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
cuba:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield. |
| 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
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| 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, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
morocco:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
morocco:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 19 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| 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
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay