Driving in Cuba vs. New Zealand: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Cuba versus New Zealand, travelers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. Key contrasts include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and unique lane usages. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
new zealand:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
new zealand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
new zealand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cuba:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
cuba:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
cuba:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay