Driving in Dominican Republic vs. Portugal: Key Differences
When driving in the Dominican Republic or Portugal, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include lane usage, speed limitations, and alcohol tolerance levels. With unique rules governing overtaking and traffic signals, this comparison highlights the importance of familiarizing oneself with local driving practices to enhance safety abroad.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited. |
| 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 taxis. |
| 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.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
portugal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
dominican republic:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 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 | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
portugal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
dominican republic:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
portugal:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Portugal |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
portugal:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
portugal:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common, especially during holidays |
| 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: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
portugal:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| 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
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Possible |
| 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
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay