Dominican Republic vs Vietnam: Driving Safety Insights
Explore the distinct driving landscapes of the Dominican Republic and Vietnam, where unique regulations and traffic norms shape the safety experiences of their roads. Key highlights include differing speed limits, the use of bus and cycle lanes, and varying alcohol tolerance levels, all crucial for ensuring a safe journey in these vibrant countries.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 '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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 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 | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Limited restriction |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Fines in some areas for excessive use |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Discouraged for signaling other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
dominican republic:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
dominican republic:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
dominican republic:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| 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
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Expected in congested traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Common but limited by law in cities |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Frequent use compared to Western countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
dominican republic:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
dominican republic:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
dominican republic:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common |
| 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%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with 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
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days