Driving Differences: Guatemala vs. Saudi Arabia
When navigating the roadways of Guatemala and Saudi Arabia, distinct variations in regulations, speed limits, and road etiquette emerge. While Guatemala emphasizes shared cycling spaces, Saudi Arabia implements high-occupancy lanes and stricter alcohol limits. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure and responsible journey abroad.
Lanes
| Guatemala | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | 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: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
guatemala:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
guatemala:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
saudi arabia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Guatemala | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Guatemala | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Guatemala | 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; proof may be required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | 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
guatemala:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
guatemala:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
guatemala:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay