Driving in El Salvador vs. Peru: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of El Salvador and Peru, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can greatly affect their travel experience. Key variations include speed limits, signaling protocols, and emergency response numbers. Understanding these unique aspects is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 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 | 90 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 | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
peru:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
peru:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
peru:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
peru:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
peru:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
peru:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Peru |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
el salvador:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
peru:
Not used in Peru
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
peru:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
peru:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Typically displayed on vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
peru:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Often used more 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
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used widely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
peru:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay