Driving Differences: Italy vs. Paraguay Explained
The driving landscapes of Italy and Paraguay reveal intriguing contrasts that every traveler should recognize. From lane markings and speed regulations to emergency contact numbers, the nuances in road rules significantly impact safety abroad. Understanding these key distinctions will not only enhance your journey but also ensure a secure driving experience in each country.
Lanes
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
paraguay:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
italy:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
italy:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days