Driving in Cuba vs Saudi Arabia: Key Differences Explained
Cuba and Saudi Arabia showcase distinct driving practices that reflect their unique cultures and regulations. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol tolerance levels, with Saudi Arabia adopting stricter measures for road safety. Understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| 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 |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
saudi arabia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 120 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
saudi arabia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| 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, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
cuba:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 993 |
| 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
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay