Driving in the Dominican Republic vs. Israel: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of the Dominican Republic and Israel, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences behind the wheel. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signals. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each unique driving environment.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
israel:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
israel:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
dominican republic:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
israel:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
dominican republic:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
israel:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Used before green light. |
| 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 prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
israel:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
dominican republic:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory but recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
israel:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
israel:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | Check local numbers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
israel:
Check local numbers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay