Driving in El Salvador vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
Discover the unique nuances of driving in El Salvador and Saudi Arabia, where distinct regulations and road practices shape the experience. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol restrictions, this comparison highlights essential contrasts to help ensure your safety while navigating abroad. Prepare for a journey through varying traffic cultures and legal requirements!
Lanes
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
saudi arabia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
el salvador:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay