Driving in El Salvador vs. Israel: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of El Salvador and Israel, distinct variations in regulations and practices emerge. From speed limits to overtaking rules, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Notably, Israel enforces stricter speed regulations and variable limits, while El Salvador permits overtaking under broader conditions. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances can enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
israel:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
israel:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
israel:
Yes
Signals
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Used before green light. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| 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
israel:
Used before green light.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
israel:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| 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
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Check local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
israel:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay