Driving in Saudi Arabia vs Venezuela: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their experience. Key contrasts include varying speed limits, the presence of bus lanes, and alcohol tolerance levels. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure and compliant journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Saudi arabia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
Yes
venezuela:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Saudi arabia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120-140 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Saudi arabia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Saudi Arabia | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Saudi arabia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Saudi arabia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Saudi arabia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use for communication on the road | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Saudi arabia | 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 | Common, random checkpoints are used | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; possible imprisonment | Can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Frequent for offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
venezuela:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
venezuela:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Saudi arabia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
saudi arabia:
999
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
saudi arabia:
993
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Saudi arabia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible