Driving in Jamaica vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Jamaica and Vietnam, understanding their unique driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. From lane usage and speed limits to signaling and road etiquette, these nations present distinct contrasts. Notably, Jamaica drives on the left while Vietnam favors the right, shaping each country's approach to travel and safety.
Lanes
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the center of the road on two-way streets. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks the centerline; passing permitted with caution. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, when safe and oncoming traffic is clear | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Bridge crossings | Railroad crossings |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily for buses in certain urban areas | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Marked with signs indicating bus lane | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with the road, cyclists must keep to the left | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Occasional with bicycle symbols | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits via signs or road markings | N/A |
Driving Side
jamaica:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
jamaica:
Marks the center of the road on two-way streets.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
jamaica:
Marks the centerline; passing permitted with caution.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
jamaica:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
jamaica:
Yes, when safe and oncoming traffic is clear
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
jamaica:
Bridge crossings
vietnam:
Railroad crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
jamaica:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
jamaica:
Limited
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
jamaica:
Primarily for buses in certain urban areas
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
jamaica:
Marked with signs indicating bus lane
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
jamaica:
Limited
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
jamaica:
Shared with the road, cyclists must keep to the left
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
jamaica:
Occasional with bicycle symbols
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
jamaica:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jamaica:
Fixed speed limits via signs or road markings
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits via signs | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for immediate traffic violations | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
jamaica:
30-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
jamaica:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
jamaica:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
jamaica:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
jamaica:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
jamaica:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
jamaica:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
jamaica:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jamaica:
Fixed speed limits via signs
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
jamaica:
Common for immediate traffic violations
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution; confirm no vehicles are crossing | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Jamaica | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Typically allowed in situations to avert danger | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged near hospitals and schools | Limited restriction |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Rarely enforced | Fines in some areas for excessive use |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal intentions, often a warning | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not widely restricted | Discouraged for signaling other messages |
| Hand Signals: Permitted | Yes, especially if indicator lights fail | Yes, if vehicle signals are malfunctioning |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common in older or malfunctioning vehicles | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Often triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
jamaica:
Proceed with caution; confirm no vehicles are crossing
vietnam:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
jamaica:
Not used in Jamaica
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
jamaica:
Typically allowed in situations to avert danger
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
jamaica:
Discouraged near hospitals and schools
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
jamaica:
Rarely enforced
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Usage
jamaica:
To signal intentions, often a warning
vietnam:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
jamaica:
Not widely restricted
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Hand Signals: Permitted
jamaica:
Yes, especially if indicator lights fail
vietnam:
Yes, if vehicle signals are malfunctioning
Hand Signals: Common Usage
jamaica:
More common in older or malfunctioning vehicles
vietnam:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
jamaica:
English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
jamaica:
Often triangular with red borders
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless signs prohibit it | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
jamaica:
Prohibited
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
Left Turn: General
jamaica:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
vietnam:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Left Turn: At Intersections
jamaica:
Yield to oncoming traffic
vietnam:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
U- Turns Allowed
jamaica:
Allowed unless signs prohibit it
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof via certificate | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not consistently used | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
jamaica:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
jamaica:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
jamaica:
Annual inspection required; proof via certificate
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
jamaica:
Not consistently used
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jamaica:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
jamaica:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To signal intentions or warnings | Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement |
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Informally regulated | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Expected in congested traffic |
| Lane Courtesy: Blocking | Discouraged | Discouraged and may be penalized |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Encouraged only to avert danger | Common but limited by law in cities |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use; more common than in some countries | Frequent use compared to Western countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if safe | Pull over and stop, if possible |
| Emergency Vehicles: Awareness | Sirens and flashing lights | Listen for sirens and watch for flashing lights |
Flashing Lights: Usage
jamaica:
To signal intentions or warnings
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Flashing Lights: Misuse
jamaica:
Informally regulated
vietnam:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
jamaica:
Common practice
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Lane Courtesy: Blocking
jamaica:
Discouraged
vietnam:
Discouraged and may be penalized
Use Of Horn: Limited
jamaica:
Encouraged only to avert danger
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
jamaica:
Moderate use; more common than in some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
jamaica:
Pedestrians have right of way at crossings
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
jamaica:
Pull over and stop if safe
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Emergency Vehicles: Awareness
jamaica:
Sirens and flashing lights
vietnam:
Listen for sirens and watch for flashing lights
Alcohol
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance; underage drinking and driving prohibited | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for driving under drug influence | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Zero Tolerance: Medications | Check for impairment warnings | Check if medication affects driving ability |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasionally conducted | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies with severity and past offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe breaches | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in fines and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
jamaica:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
jamaica:
Zero tolerance; underage drinking and driving prohibited
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
jamaica:
Zero tolerance for driving under drug influence
vietnam:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Zero Tolerance: Medications
jamaica:
Check for impairment warnings
vietnam:
Check if medication affects driving ability
Enforcement: Random Checks
jamaica:
Occasionally conducted
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
jamaica:
Varies with severity and past offenses
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
jamaica:
Possible for severe breaches
vietnam:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
jamaica:
Can result in fines and license suspension
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Priority: Entering | Yield to the right; vehicles in the roundabout have priority | Yield to traffic already in the roundabout |
| Priority: Inside | Keep to the left; do not change lanes abruptly | Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly |
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if taking an immediate exit | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for immediate or second exit | Use for first exit or straight |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for other exits | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Priority: Entering
jamaica:
Yield to the right; vehicles in the roundabout have priority
vietnam:
Yield to traffic already in the roundabout
Priority: Inside
jamaica:
Keep to the left; do not change lanes abruptly
vietnam:
Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly
Signaling: Entering
jamaica:
Signal if taking an immediate exit
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
jamaica:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
jamaica:
Use for immediate or second exit
vietnam:
Use for first exit or straight
Lane Usage: Left
jamaica:
Use for other exits
vietnam:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 or 110 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 119 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Depends on provider; often through insurance | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
jamaica:
119 or 110
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
jamaica:
119
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
jamaica:
Depends on provider; often through insurance
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jamaica:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
jamaica:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Jamaica | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase with speed over limit | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties; includes fines and possible imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Subject to fines and points | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for minor fines | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Enforced strictly; usually within 30 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Fines | Must be paid promptly to avoid complications | Same as residents; must be paid |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible for unresolved fines | Possible if fines are not paid |
Common Fines: Speeding
jamaica:
Varies; penalties increase with speed over limit
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
jamaica:
Severe penalties; includes fines and possible imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
jamaica:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
jamaica:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
jamaica:
Subject to fines and points
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
jamaica:
Possible for minor fines
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
jamaica:
Enforced strictly; usually within 30 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days
Foreign Drivers: Fines
jamaica:
Must be paid promptly to avoid complications
vietnam:
Same as residents; must be paid
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
jamaica:
Possible for unresolved fines
vietnam:
Possible if fines are not paid