Driving Differences: Cuba vs. Venezuela Explained
When navigating the roads of Cuba and Venezuela, understanding their distinct driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key differences arise in lane usage, speed limits, and traffic enforcement practices. While Cuba emphasizes local rules, Venezuela allows overtaking on multi-lane roads, making it crucial for travelers to familiarize themselves with these unique aspects.
Lanes
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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 | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
venezuela:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 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 | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
venezuela:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay