Driving in the Dominican Republic vs. Fiji: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of the Dominican Republic and Fiji, understanding the distinct regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key disparities include driving on the right versus the left, variations in speed limits, and differing rules for overtaking. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances can enhance your travel experience and promote road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
fiji:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
Overtaking: On Left
dominican republic:
Yes
fiji:
No
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
fiji:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
fiji:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
fiji:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
fiji:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
fiji:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
fiji:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
fiji:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
fiji:
50 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
fiji:
30 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
fiji:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
fiji:
60 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
fiji:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
fiji:
90 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Speed Units
dominican republic:
km/h
fiji:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
fiji:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
fiji:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Signals
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Fiji |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
fiji:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
dominican republic:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed only where indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
fiji:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
fiji:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
fiji:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
fiji:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial fines, potential loss of license |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
fiji:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
fiji:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
fiji:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; $50 to $500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines can apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Fines apply; obey signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
Common Fines: Alcohol
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days