Driving in Cuba vs. Portugal: Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Cuba and Portugal as we delve into their key distinctions. From speed limits and lane regulations to documentation requirements, this comparison highlights essential aspects that ensure road safety abroad. Whether you're navigating Cuba's local nuances or adhering to Portugal's strict traffic norms, understanding these variations is crucial for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Prohibited. |
| 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; 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 colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
portugal:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
portugal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 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 | 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 | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
portugal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
portugal:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be 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: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially during holidays |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible |
| 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
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay