Driving in El Salvador vs. Honduras: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and Honduras, understanding their unique driving regulations is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include bus lane usage and speed limits. While both countries prioritize traffic safety, El Salvador emphasizes strict enforcement, whereas Honduras offers more flexibility in certain areas. Prepare for your travels with these insights!
Lanes
| El salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved primarily for public transportation vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or through signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | In areas with dedicated bike paths. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are typically static. |
Bus Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
honduras:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
honduras:
Reserved primarily for public transportation vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
honduras:
Labeled 'BUS' or through signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
honduras:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
honduras:
In areas with dedicated bike paths.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
honduras:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
honduras:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
honduras:
Speed limits are typically static.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are typically static. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Infrequent |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Sometimes issued if stopped by police |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
honduras:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
honduras:
25 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
honduras:
80-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
honduras:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
honduras:
Speed limits are typically static.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
honduras:
Infrequent
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
honduras:
Sometimes issued if stopped by police
Signals
| El salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Honduras |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
honduras:
Not used in Honduras
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
honduras:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
honduras:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Documentation
| El salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
honduras:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
honduras:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
honduras:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
honduras:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
honduras:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Varies; more frequent in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
honduras:
Varies; more frequent in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
honduras:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Conducted; checkpoints common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Severe penalties apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
honduras:
0.07%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
honduras:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
honduras:
Conducted; checkpoints common
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
honduras:
Severe penalties apply
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
honduras:
Can result in fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 911 or 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Contact via general emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
honduras:
911 or 199
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
honduras:
Contact via general emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
honduras:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
honduras:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Honduras | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties apply including possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Substantial fines and points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Sometimes possible, depending on the violation |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
honduras:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
honduras:
Severe penalties apply including possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
honduras:
Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
honduras:
Fines for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
honduras:
Substantial fines and points
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
honduras:
Sometimes possible, depending on the violation
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
honduras:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay