Driving Differences: Dominican Republic vs. North Macedonia
When navigating the roads of the Dominican Republic and North Macedonia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and customs that can greatly impact their travel experience. While both nations prioritize road safety, notable contrasts exist in speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signals. Understanding these variations is essential for a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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 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 marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
north macedonia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Prepare to go |
| 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 | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
dominican republic:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
north macedonia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
dominican republic:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
dominican republic:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
dominican republic:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| 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 | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
dominican republic:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
north macedonia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay