Driving Safety: Paraguay vs. Philippines Explained
Explore the unique driving landscapes of Paraguay and the Philippines in our comprehensive comparison. Key distinctions include lane usage, speed regulations, and signaling practices. While both nations prioritize pedestrian rights, their traffic laws vary significantly. Understanding these nuances is essential for a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Rarely, usually prohibited. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Overtaking: On Right
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Bus Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
philippines:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
philippines:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
paraguay:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities. | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
paraguay:
40 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
paraguay:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
80 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
110 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
paraguay:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
philippines:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
paraguay:
Common
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Paraguay | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; standard symbols used as well | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
paraguay:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
paraguay:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent than in some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to allow passage | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Pedestrians Priority
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
philippines:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police checkpoints | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
paraguay:
911
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
paraguay:
Recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Paraguay | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply; amount varies | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; amount varies | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines and penalties | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 30 days | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance