Cuba vs Thailand: A Driving Safety Comparison
Exploring the unique road regulations in Cuba and Thailand reveals fascinating contrasts that impact your travel experience. From lane usage to speed limits and traffic protocols, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safety on foreign roads. Discover how driving norms differ, empowering you to navigate confidently in each country.
Lanes
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Prohibited |
| 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 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. |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
thailand:
Prohibited
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
thailand:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
thailand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
cuba:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days