Cuba vs Sri Lanka: Driving Differences You Need to Know
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Cuba and Sri Lanka highlights significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides and differing speed limits. Familiarize yourself with these essential distinctions to navigate the roads confidently and securely in each country.
Lanes
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed when safe. |
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
cuba:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
sri lanka:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
cuba:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, proof required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | 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
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| 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 used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay