Driving Differences: El Salvador vs Philippines
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and the Philippines, understanding the distinct regulations and practices is crucial for a secure journey. Key contrasts include lane usage, speed limits, and enforcement measures, which significantly influence travel experiences. This guide will illuminate these driving variances, ensuring you are well-equipped for your adventure abroad.
Lanes
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
el salvador:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
philippines:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
philippines:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
philippines:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| 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
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
el salvador:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance