Driving Differences: Cyprus vs. Vanuatu Explained
Exploring the contrasting driving customs of Cyprus and Vanuatu reveals intriguing distinctions that are vital for safe travels. While Cyprus adheres to left-side navigation, Vanuatu drivers stay on the right. Speed limits and road etiquette also diverge significantly, making it essential for travelers to familiarize themselves with these variations to ensure a secure journey.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
vanuatu:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
vanuatu:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
vanuatu:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cyprus:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
cyprus:
50 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cyprus:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cyprus:
Yes
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | English; 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
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
vanuatu:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
cyprus:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
cyprus:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
cyprus:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
vanuatu:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
Contact: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; or through police stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay