Driving Differences: Fiji vs Guatemala for Travelers
Discover the unique nuances of navigating the roads in Fiji and Guatemala. While Fiji mandates driving on the left, Guatemala's right-hand traffic presents distinct regulations for lane usage and speed limits. This comparison highlights essential distinctions in road etiquette, alcohol limits, and emergency protocols, ensuring you stay informed for safe travels in either destination.
Lanes
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Varies by location. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
guatemala:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
guatemala:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
guatemala:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
guatemala:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
guatemala:
Varies by location.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
fiji:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
guatemala:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
guatemala:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
guatemala:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
guatemala:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
guatemala:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
guatemala:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
guatemala:
80 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
guatemala:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
fiji:
Yes
guatemala:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Not used in Guatemala |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
guatemala:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Varies, check local signs for permission |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Varies by locality; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
fiji:
0.08%
guatemala:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
fiji:
0.05%
guatemala:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
guatemala:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
fiji:
911
guatemala:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
guatemala:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Varies; check with local authorities |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
guatemala:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
guatemala:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities