Driving in Dominican Republic vs. India: Key Differences
As you prepare for your journey through the Dominican Republic and India, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for a safe experience. Key distinctions include driving on the right in the Dominican Republic versus the left in India, and different speed limits across urban and rural areas. Equip yourself with this knowledge to ensure a smoother trip abroad.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, in some areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
dominican republic:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
india:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
india:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
india:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
india:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in India |
| 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 and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
india:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
dominican republic:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
dominican republic:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
dominican republic:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
dominican republic:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
india:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
dominican republic:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| 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: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
india:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay