Driving in Cuba vs. North Macedonia: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through Cuba and North Macedonia entails navigating distinct road regulations and practices. While Cuba emphasizes local rules for overtaking, North Macedonia mandates International Driving Permits. Moreover, speed limits and alcohol regulations differ significantly, underscoring the importance of understanding these unique driving norms for a safer travel experience.
Lanes
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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 and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 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 marked paths. |
| 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.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
north macedonia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 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 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 | 80 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
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
north macedonia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
cuba:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
cuba:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
cuba:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit 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
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
cuba:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay