Driving in Maldives vs. Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of the Maldives and Venezuela, drivers encounter notable variances in regulations and practices. From driving on opposite sides to differing speed limits and alcohol thresholds, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey. Explore the critical contrasts that can affect your travel experience in these unique destinations.
Lanes
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, when safe and legal. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be designated with road signs or markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Minimal | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Usually not specifically marked in many areas. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
maldives:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
maldives:
Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
maldives:
Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
venezuela:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
maldives:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
maldives:
Yes, when safe and legal.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
maldives:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
maldives:
Limited
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
maldives:
Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
maldives:
May be designated with road signs or markings.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
maldives:
Minimal
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
maldives:
Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
maldives:
Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
maldives:
Not applicable
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
maldives:
Not applicable
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
maldives:
30 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
maldives:
25 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
maldives:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
maldives:
80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
maldives:
Not applicable
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
maldives:
Not applicable
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
maldives:
Not applicable
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
maldives:
Not applicable
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
maldives:
Common
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used in Maldives | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Country-specific shapes and colors | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
maldives:
Not commonly used in Maldives
venezuela:
Not used
Horn Usage: Allowed
maldives:
Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
venezuela:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
maldives:
Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
maldives:
Country-specific shapes and colors
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
| Special Turn Lanes | Limited, mainly at main intersections | Yes, marked with arrows |
Right Turn On Red
maldives:
Not allowed unless signed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
maldives:
Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Special Turn Lanes
maldives:
Limited, mainly at main intersections
venezuela:
Yes, marked with arrows
Documentation
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic checks required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
maldives:
Periodic checks required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
maldives:
Usually displayed on the vehicle
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
maldives:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
maldives:
Common practice
venezuela:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
maldives:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
maldives:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Fines can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
maldives:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
maldives:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
maldives:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
maldives:
Less common
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
maldives:
Fines can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Appropriate lanes as per signage | Use for first exit or straight |
| Lane Usage: Left | Appropriate lanes as per signage | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Lane Usage: Right
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
venezuela:
Use for first exit or straight
Lane Usage: Left
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
venezuela:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police for traffic issues | 171 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
maldives:
119
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
maldives:
Contact local police for traffic issues
venezuela:
171
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Maldives | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from MVR 750 | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for minor offenses | Yes, sometimes possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified time | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
maldives:
Varies; fines start from MVR 750
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
maldives:
Severe penalties including license suspension
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
maldives:
Fines apply for non-compliance
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
maldives:
Fines for use without hands-free
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
maldives:
Substantial fines
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
maldives:
Possible for minor offenses
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
maldives:
Varies; typically within a specified time
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay