Driving in Paraguay vs. Switzerland: Key Differences
When exploring the roadways of Paraguay and Switzerland, motorists encounter striking contrasts in regulations and practices. From speed limits to lane usage, each nation showcases unique approaches to vehicular safety. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for a secure and enjoyable journey abroad, ensuring you navigate with confidence in both locales.
Lanes
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Rarely, usually prohibited. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
paraguay:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Bus Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
switzerland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
switzerland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
paraguay:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities. | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
paraguay:
40 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
110 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
paraguay:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
switzerland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
paraguay:
Common
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Paraguay | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; standard symbols used as well | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
switzerland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police checkpoints | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
switzerland:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
paraguay:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
paraguay:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
paraguay:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
paraguay:
911
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
paraguay:
911
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
paraguay:
Recommended
switzerland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Paraguay | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply; amount varies | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; amount varies | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 30 days | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay