Driving in Honduras vs. Jamaica: Key Safety Differences
Explore the distinct road regulations and practices in Honduras and Jamaica to enhance your journey and promote safety abroad. Key disparities include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and unique traffic signaling methods. Understanding these nuances will ensure a smoother and more secure driving experience in these vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the center of the road on two-way streets. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Marks the centerline; passing permitted with caution. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, when safe and oncoming traffic is clear |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Bridge crossings |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved primarily for public transportation vehicles. | Primarily for buses in certain urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or through signage. | Marked with signs indicating bus lane |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | In areas with dedicated bike paths. | Shared with the road, cyclists must keep to the left |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Occasional with bicycle symbols |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are typically static. | Fixed speed limits via signs or road markings |
Driving Side
honduras:
Right
jamaica:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
honduras:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
jamaica:
Marks the center of the road on two-way streets.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
honduras:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
jamaica:
Marks the centerline; passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Left
honduras:
Yes
jamaica:
No
Overtaking: On Right
honduras:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
jamaica:
Yes, when safe and oncoming traffic is clear
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
honduras:
Railroad crossings
jamaica:
Bridge crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
honduras:
Use rightmost lane.
jamaica:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
honduras:
Reserved primarily for public transportation vehicles.
jamaica:
Primarily for buses in certain urban areas
Bus Lanes: Markings
honduras:
Labeled 'BUS' or through signage.
jamaica:
Marked with signs indicating bus lane
Cycle Lanes: Usage
honduras:
In areas with dedicated bike paths.
jamaica:
Shared with the road, cyclists must keep to the left
Cycle Lanes: Markings
honduras:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
jamaica:
Occasional with bicycle symbols
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
honduras:
Speed limits are typically static.
jamaica:
Fixed speed limits via signs or road markings
Speeds Limits
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are typically static. | Fixed speed limits via signs |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Infrequent | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Sometimes issued if stopped by police | Common for immediate traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Standard
honduras:
30-40 km/h
jamaica:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
honduras:
25 km/h
jamaica:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
honduras:
60-80 km/h
jamaica:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
honduras:
60-80 km/h
jamaica:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
honduras:
60-80 km/h
jamaica:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
honduras:
80-110 km/h
jamaica:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
honduras:
80-100 km/h
jamaica:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
honduras:
80-100 km/h
jamaica:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
honduras:
Speed limits are typically static.
jamaica:
Fixed speed limits via signs
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
honduras:
Infrequent
jamaica:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
honduras:
Sometimes issued if stopped by police
jamaica:
Common for immediate traffic violations
Signals
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution; confirm no vehicles are crossing |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Honduras | Not used in Jamaica |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Typically allowed in situations to avert danger |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged near hospitals and schools |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Rarely enforced |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To signal intentions, often a warning |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not widely restricted |
| Hand Signals: Permitted | Yes, if vehicle signals are malfunctioning | Yes, especially if indicator lights fail |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common in older or malfunctioning vehicles |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Often triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
honduras:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
jamaica:
Proceed with caution; confirm no vehicles are crossing
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
honduras:
Not used in Honduras
jamaica:
Not used in Jamaica
Horn Usage: Allowed
honduras:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jamaica:
Typically allowed in situations to avert danger
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
honduras:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
jamaica:
Discouraged near hospitals and schools
Horn Usage: Penalties
honduras:
Fines may apply for misuse
jamaica:
Rarely enforced
Headlight Flash: Usage
honduras:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
jamaica:
To signal intentions, often a warning
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
honduras:
Not to be used to signal other messages
jamaica:
Not widely restricted
Hand Signals: Permitted
honduras:
Yes, if vehicle signals are malfunctioning
jamaica:
Yes, especially if indicator lights fail
Hand Signals: Common Usage
honduras:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
jamaica:
More common in older or malfunctioning vehicles
Traffic Signs: Language
honduras:
Spanish; symbols are standard
jamaica:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
honduras:
Triangular-shaped with red border
jamaica:
Often triangular with red borders
Turns
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Yield to oncoming traffic |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless signs prohibit it |
Right Turn On Red
honduras:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
jamaica:
Prohibited
Left Turn: General
honduras:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
jamaica:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Left Turn: At Intersections
honduras:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
jamaica:
Yield to oncoming traffic
U- Turns Allowed
honduras:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
jamaica:
Allowed unless signs prohibit it
Documentation
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual inspection required; proof via certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not consistently used |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
honduras:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jamaica:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
honduras:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jamaica:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
honduras:
Required annually
jamaica:
Annual inspection required; proof via certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
honduras:
Displayed on windshield
jamaica:
Not consistently used
Road Etiquette
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To signal intentions or warnings |
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged, fines may apply | Informally regulated |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Lane Courtesy: Blocking | Discouraged and may be penalized | Discouraged |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Encouraged only to avert danger |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Varies; more frequent in urban areas | Moderate use; more common than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if safe |
| Emergency Vehicles: Awareness | Listen for sirens and watch for flashing lights | Sirens and flashing lights |
Flashing Lights: Usage
honduras:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
jamaica:
To signal intentions or warnings
Flashing Lights: Misuse
honduras:
Discouraged, fines may apply
jamaica:
Informally regulated
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
honduras:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
jamaica:
Common practice
Lane Courtesy: Blocking
honduras:
Discouraged and may be penalized
jamaica:
Discouraged
Use Of Horn: Limited
honduras:
Only in emergency situations
jamaica:
Encouraged only to avert danger
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
honduras:
Varies; more frequent in urban areas
jamaica:
Moderate use; more common than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
honduras:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
jamaica:
Pedestrians have right of way at crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
honduras:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
jamaica:
Pull over and stop if safe
Emergency Vehicles: Awareness
honduras:
Listen for sirens and watch for flashing lights
jamaica:
Sirens and flashing lights
Alcohol
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance; underage drinking and driving prohibited |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs | Zero tolerance for driving under drug influence |
| Zero Tolerance: Medications | Check if medication affects driving ability | Check for impairment warnings |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted; checkpoints common | Occasionally conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe penalties apply | Varies with severity and past offenses |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for severe breaches |
Limits: General Drivers
honduras:
0.07%
jamaica:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
honduras:
0.02%
jamaica:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
honduras:
0.00%; zero tolerance
jamaica:
Zero tolerance; underage drinking and driving prohibited
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
honduras:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
jamaica:
Zero tolerance for driving under drug influence
Zero Tolerance: Medications
honduras:
Check if medication affects driving ability
jamaica:
Check for impairment warnings
Enforcement: Random Checks
honduras:
Conducted; checkpoints common
jamaica:
Occasionally conducted
Enforcement: Fines
honduras:
Severe penalties apply
jamaica:
Varies with severity and past offenses
Enforcement: Imprisonment
honduras:
Possible for severe offenses
jamaica:
Possible for severe breaches
Roundabouts
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Priority: Entering | Yield to traffic already in the roundabout | Yield to the right; vehicles in the roundabout have priority |
| Priority: Inside | Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly | Keep to the left; do not change lanes abruptly |
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if taking an immediate exit |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for immediate or second exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for other exits |
Priority: Entering
honduras:
Yield to traffic already in the roundabout
jamaica:
Yield to the right; vehicles in the roundabout have priority
Priority: Inside
honduras:
Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly
jamaica:
Keep to the left; do not change lanes abruptly
Signaling: Entering
honduras:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
jamaica:
Signal if taking an immediate exit
Signaling: Exiting
honduras:
Signal right when preparing to exit
jamaica:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
honduras:
Use for first exit or straight
jamaica:
Use for immediate or second exit
Lane Usage: Left
honduras:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
jamaica:
Use for other exits
Emergency Services
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 or 199 | 119 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact via general emergency numbers | 119 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Depends on provider; often through insurance |
Contact: General Emergency
honduras:
911 or 199
jamaica:
119 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
honduras:
Contact via general emergency numbers
jamaica:
119
Contact: Roadside Assistance
honduras:
Check with your insurance provider
jamaica:
Depends on provider; often through insurance
Penalties And Fines
| Honduras | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; penalties increase with speed over limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties apply including possible imprisonment | Severe penalties; includes fines and possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use while driving | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines and points | Subject to fines and points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible, depending on the violation | Possible for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Enforced strictly; usually within 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Fines | Same as residents; must be paid | Must be paid promptly to avoid complications |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible for unresolved fines |
Common Fines: Speeding
honduras:
Varies; can be substantial
jamaica:
Varies; penalties increase with speed over limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
honduras:
Severe penalties apply including possible imprisonment
jamaica:
Severe penalties; includes fines and possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
honduras:
Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance
jamaica:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
honduras:
Fines for use while driving
jamaica:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
honduras:
Substantial fines and points
jamaica:
Subject to fines and points
Payment: On The Spot
honduras:
Sometimes possible, depending on the violation
jamaica:
Possible for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
honduras:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
jamaica:
Enforced strictly; usually within 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Fines
honduras:
Same as residents; must be paid
jamaica:
Must be paid promptly to avoid complications
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
honduras:
Possible if fines are not paid
jamaica:
Possible for unresolved fines