Driving in Cuba vs. Uganda: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations and practices between Cuba and Uganda, notable distinctions emerge. While Cuba drives on the right and enforces a mix of speed limits, Uganda operates on the left with stricter regulations, especially regarding alcohol limits. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Not allowed |
| 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 | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
uganda:
Not allowed
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
uganda:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
uganda:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
uganda:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
uganda:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
uganda:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| 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
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
uganda:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
uganda:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket