Driving Differences: Netherlands vs. Venezuela Explained
When navigating the roads of the Netherlands and Venezuela, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact road safety. Key differences include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol tolerance levels. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and compliant driving experience while abroad.
Lanes
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| 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.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
venezuela:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Markings
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
netherlands:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 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 | 100-130 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
netherlands:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
netherlands:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
netherlands:
80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Netherlands | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic technical inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
venezuela:
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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
netherlands:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
netherlands:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
netherlands:
0.02%
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | No signal required unless exiting immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
venezuela:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 112 for police assistance | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
netherlands:
112
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
netherlands:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Netherlands | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail | Yes, sometimes possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; payment within specified period required | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay