Driving Differences: Cuba vs. South Korea Safety Guide
When embarking on a journey through Cuba and South Korea, understanding their distinct road regulations is vital for a secure trip. Key contrasts include lane usage, speed limits, and traffic etiquette. While Cuba has relaxed overtaking rules, South Korea emphasizes strict adherence to speed enforcement, ensuring safety on their bustling roadways.
Lanes
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| 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 during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| 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 sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
south korea:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
south korea:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
south korea:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-110 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
south korea:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes |
| 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
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay