Driving in the Dominican Republic vs. Tunisia: Key Differences
When venturing into the Dominican Republic or Tunisia, understanding the nuances of their road regulations is crucial for a secure journey. Notable distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic enforcement practices. While urban speed limits differ, the approach to alcohol consumption and emergency protocols also varies significantly in these two vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | N/A |
| 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.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 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
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
tunisia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not typically used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
tunisia:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
tunisia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
dominican republic:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
tunisia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial; varies by offense |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 197 |
| 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
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
tunisia:
197
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay