Driving in Dominican Republic vs Paraguay: Key Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial. This comparison between the Dominican Republic and Paraguay reveals significant variations in lane usage, speed limits, and traffic etiquette. While both nations prioritize pedestrian rights, their approaches to safety measures and enforcement differ markedly, shaping the overall driving experience.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| 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.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 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. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Paraguay |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
paraguay:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | 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
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
paraguay:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
dominican republic:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common; police checkpoints |
| 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: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
paraguay:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 911 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
paraguay:
911
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days