Driving in Spain vs. Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Spain and Venezuela reveals significant variations in traffic lanes, speed limits, and enforcement practices. By highlighting these contrasts, we aim to enhance your driving experience and ensure your safety on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' 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 colored pavement. | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
venezuela:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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, commonly used | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
spain:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
spain:
20-30 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
90 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
spain:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
70-80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
120 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
spain:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
90 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
spain:
Yes, commonly used
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Spain | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with white background and red border | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
spain:
Not used in Spain
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Warning
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must carry license. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required. | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield in some areas. | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory. | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory. | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
spain:
Mandatory.
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory.
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Used more frequently in urgent situations | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe penalties, including high fines | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
spain:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
spain:
0.03%
venezuela:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
venezuela:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check with local authorities | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or RACE | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
spain:
112
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
spain:
Check with local authorities
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Spain | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines and potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €200, mandatory use | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €200, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €200, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; discount if paid promptly. | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
spain:
€200, mandatory use
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
spain:
€200, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
spain:
€200, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible