Driving in Cuba vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Cuba and Nepal, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. Notably, Cuba drives on the right while Nepal adopts the left side. Speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations also vary significantly, making it essential for travelers to understand these contrasts for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Yes, with caution. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | N/A |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
cuba:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
nepal:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
cuba:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| 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 | Mandatory; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
nepal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
cuba:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay