Driving in Guatemala vs. Myanmar: What You Need to Know
When comparing the road rules of Guatemala and Myanmar, travelers must note significant variations that impact their journey. From lane usage to speed limits and enforcement practices, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Discover how each country’s unique regulations can shape your travels.
Lanes
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
guatemala:
Yes
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
No
myanmar:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
myanmar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
guatemala:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
80 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
myanmar:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
myanmar:
Yes
Signals
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in Myanmar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
guatemala:
0.05%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
myanmar:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
guatemala:
Can result in license suspension
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Available through some insurance providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Possible; else must be paid at office |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay