Cuba vs. Singapore: Driving Safety Insights Compared
When comparing the road regulations of Cuba and Singapore, travelers will discover notable contrasts that can impact their driving experience. While Cuba adheres to right-hand driving with flexible lane usage, Singapore enforces left-side driving and specific bus and cycle lane protocols. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not allowed. |
| 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 peak 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 colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
singapore:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
singapore:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
singapore:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
singapore:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Singapore |
| 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Display not required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| 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 crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
cuba:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
cuba:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay