Driving in Cuba vs. United Kingdom: Key Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Cuba and the United Kingdom, notable distinctions emerge in driving protocols and safety measures. While Cuba drives on the right and prioritizes local rules, the UK adopts a left-side approach with stringent lane regulations. Understanding these variations ensures a safer journey for travelers navigating foreign roads.
Lanes
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| 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, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
cuba:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
cuba:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
united kingdom:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
united kingdom:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
united kingdom:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| 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 | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
cuba:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
united kingdom:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cuba:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
cuba:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
cuba:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
united kingdom:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
cuba:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
cuba:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay