Driving in Cuba vs. Switzerland: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Cuba and Switzerland as we explore their distinct regulations and practices. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol thresholds and emergency contacts, this comparison highlights crucial variations. Understanding these nuances can significantly enhance your travel safety and ensure a smoother journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| 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 sometimes taxis. |
| 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
switzerland:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
switzerland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
switzerland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 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 | 80 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, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
switzerland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
switzerland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| 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
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
switzerland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
cuba:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
cuba:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot