Driving in Cuba vs Vanuatu: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Cuba and Vanuatu, it's crucial to understand their unique traffic regulations and practices. While Cuba mandates liability insurance and allows varied speed limits, Vanuatu emphasizes third-party coverage and distinct urban speed restrictions. Familiarizing yourself with these driving nuances can enhance your travel experience and ensure a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
vanuatu:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Vanuatu |
| 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
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Insurance
cuba:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 to the side and stop, if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
vanuatu:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible; or through police stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay