Driving in Cuba vs. Trinidad and Tobago: Key Differences
Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago present unique driving environments that significantly differ in regulations and practices. From the contrasting sides of the road they utilize to distinct speed limits and traffic etiquette, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Yes, when safe and permitted. |
| 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 taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Marked with signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
trinidad and tobago:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
trinidad and tobago:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
cuba:
Yes
trinidad and tobago:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
trinidad and tobago:
Yes, when safe and permitted.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
trinidad and tobago:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
trinidad and tobago:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
trinidad and tobago:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
Marked with signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
trinidad and tobago:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
trinidad and tobago:
Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 65 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Common, officers may issue fines directly |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
65 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
trinidad and tobago:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
trinidad and tobago:
Common, officers may issue fines directly
Signals
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Trinidad and Tobago |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
trinidad and tobago:
Not used in Trinidad and Tobago
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
trinidad and tobago:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Headlight Flash: Usage
cuba:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
trinidad and tobago:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
trinidad and tobago:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
trinidad and tobago:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
trinidad and tobago:
Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Insurance
cuba:
Liability insurance mandatory
trinidad and tobago:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
trinidad and tobago:
Displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
trinidad and tobago:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use to communicate in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
cuba:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
trinidad and tobago:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
trinidad and tobago:
Frequent use to communicate in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
trinidad and tobago:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| 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 |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
trinidad and tobago:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
trinidad and tobago:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
trinidad and tobago:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
trinidad and tobago:
Common
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 999 or use local police numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
trinidad and tobago:
999 or 911
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
trinidad and tobago:
999 or use local police numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
trinidad and tobago:
Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
trinidad and tobago:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | TT$ 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | TT$ 1,500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | TT$ 2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
trinidad and tobago:
Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; typically within 15-30 days