Driving Safety: Netherlands vs Paraguay - Key Differences
When navigating the roads of the Netherlands and Paraguay, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. Key contrasts include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol enforcement. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey, making it crucial for international travelers to familiarize themselves with each country's unique driving landscape.
Lanes
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. | 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', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; 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 often distinct red coloring. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
paraguay:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-130 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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 | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
netherlands:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
netherlands:
80 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
netherlands:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Netherlands | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic technical inspection required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
netherlands:
Recommended
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Netherlands | 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
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
netherlands:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
netherlands:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
netherlands:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | No signal required unless exiting immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
paraguay:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 112 for police assistance | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
netherlands:
112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Netherlands | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; payment within specified period required | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days