Driving in El Salvador vs. Myanmar: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between El Salvador and Myanmar. Key distinctions include lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol thresholds for drivers. While both nations emphasize safety, their unique practices highlight the importance of understanding local rules to ensure a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-40 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 | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
myanmar:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
myanmar:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
myanmar:
Yes
Signals
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Myanmar |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
myanmar:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
myanmar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
myanmar:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Available through some insurance providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
myanmar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Possible; else must be paid at office |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay