Cuba vs Spain: A Guide to Driving Differences
When exploring the driving landscapes of Cuba and Spain, distinct traffic regulations and road customs emerge. Key differences include Spain's stricter speed limits and mandatory bus lanes, while Cuba's overtaking practices and vehicle inspections vary significantly. Understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| 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' or 'TAXI'; 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| 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.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
spain:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
spain:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
spain:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 70-80 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 | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
spain:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| 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
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Alcohol
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| 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
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay