Driving Differences: El Salvador vs Paraguay Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the unique regulations and practices of El Salvador and Paraguay is crucial for a secure driving experience. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and enforcement mechanisms. While both countries feature bus lanes, Paraguay typically exhibits stricter alcohol limits. Familiarizing yourself with these variations is essential for navigating safely on foreign roads.
Lanes
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Paraguay |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
paraguay:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
el salvador:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
paraguay:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days