Driving in El Salvador vs. Italy: A Safety Comparison
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and Italy, understanding their distinct regulations and norms is essential for ensuring safe travel. Key contrasts include variable speed limits in Italy, a focus on strict enforcement, and different approaches to lane markings. Familiarizing yourself with these unique driving customs can significantly enhance your safety abroad.
Lanes
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
el salvador:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
italy:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
italy:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
italy:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
el salvador:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
italy:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
italy:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Less frequent 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
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
italy:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
italy:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days