Cuba vs South Africa: Key Driving Differences Explained
When exploring the diverse road cultures of Cuba and South Africa, drivers must navigate significant contrasts in regulations and practices. From the differing sides of the road each country adheres to—right in Cuba and left in South Africa—to variations in speed limits and overtaking rules, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| 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; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
cuba:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
south africa:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
south africa:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
south africa:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 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 | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
south africa:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
south africa:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south africa:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay