Driving in Cyprus vs. Dominican Republic: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Cyprus and the Dominican Republic, understanding the distinct driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. With Cyprus driving on the left and the Dominican Republic on the right, there are notable variations in speed limits, lane usage, and road etiquette. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts will enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Often not marked. |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
dominican republic:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
dominican republic:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Yes
dominican republic:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
cyprus:
50 km/h
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
80 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
dominican republic:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cyprus:
Yes
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cyprus:
Yes
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
dominican republic:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
cyprus:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits without additional permits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Mandatory
dominican republic:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
cyprus:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cyprus:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cyprus:
0.02%
dominican republic:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
cyprus:
Can result in license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
cyprus:
Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately
dominican republic:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
cyprus:
112
dominican republic:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days