Driving Differences: Cyprus vs Guatemala for Safe Travel
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between Cyprus and Guatemala. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol policies and emergency protocols, understanding these key distinctions can greatly enhance your travel experience and ensure safer navigation. Stay informed to drive with confidence in both destinations.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for public transport. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Varies by location. |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
guatemala:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
guatemala:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
guatemala:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
guatemala:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
guatemala:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Yes
guatemala:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
guatemala:
Varies by location.
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 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 | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
cyprus:
50 km/h
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
guatemala:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
80 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
guatemala:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cyprus:
Yes
guatemala:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cyprus:
Yes
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Not used in Guatemala |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
guatemala:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies, check local signs for permission |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits without additional permits | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cyprus:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Varies by locality; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cyprus:
0.02%
guatemala:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
guatemala:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
guatemala:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cyprus:
112
guatemala:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
guatemala:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; check with local authorities |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
guatemala:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
guatemala:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities