Driving Differences: Dominican Republic vs Ivory Coast
When traversing the roads of the Dominican Republic and Ivory Coast, it's essential to understand the unique driving environments each country presents. From speed limits to lane regulations, these nations showcase distinct practices that impact vehicular navigation and safety. Explore key contrasts, such as urban speed limits and bus lane usage, to enhance your journey abroad.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Typically 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, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
ivory coast:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
ivory coast:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes, for some infractions. |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
ivory coast:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
ivory coast:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
ivory coast:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | French; 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
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
ivory coast:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Headlight Flash: Usage
dominican republic:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| 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 | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
dominican republic:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
ivory coast:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
ivory coast:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with 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: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated