Driving in Trinidad and Tobago vs. Venezuela: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Trinidad and Tobago versus Venezuela, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journey. With Trinidad favoring left-side driving and Venezuela permitting right-side maneuvers, it's vital to grasp these contrasts. Additionally, speed limits and road etiquette vary significantly, underscoring the importance of road awareness for a secure experience abroad.
Lanes
| Trinidad and tobago | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, when safe and permitted. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Marked with signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
Driving Side
trinidad and tobago:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
trinidad and tobago:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
trinidad and tobago:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
trinidad and tobago:
Yes, when safe and permitted.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
trinidad and tobago:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
trinidad and tobago:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
trinidad and tobago:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
trinidad and tobago:
Marked with signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
trinidad and tobago:
Limited
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
trinidad and tobago:
Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
Speeds Limits
| Trinidad and tobago | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 65 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common, officers may issue fines directly | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
trinidad and tobago:
30-50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
trinidad and tobago:
65 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
trinidad and tobago:
Common, officers may issue fines directly
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Trinidad and tobago | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Trinidad and Tobago | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; 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
trinidad and tobago:
Not used in Trinidad and Tobago
venezuela:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
trinidad and tobago:
Unnecessary use discouraged
venezuela:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
trinidad and tobago:
To warn other drivers of your presence
venezuela:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
trinidad and tobago:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
trinidad and tobago:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Trinidad and tobago | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
trinidad and tobago:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
trinidad and tobago:
Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Trinidad and tobago | 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 |
| Insurance | Third-party insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
trinidad and tobago:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
trinidad and tobago:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
trinidad and tobago:
Third-party insurance mandatory
venezuela:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
trinidad and tobago:
Displayed on vehicle
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Trinidad and tobago | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use to communicate in traffic | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
trinidad and tobago:
To warn of hazards
venezuela:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
trinidad and tobago:
Frequent use to communicate in traffic
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
trinidad and tobago:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Trinidad and tobago | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
trinidad and tobago:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
trinidad and tobago:
Common
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Trinidad and tobago | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or use local police numbers | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
trinidad and tobago:
999 or 911
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
trinidad and tobago:
999 or use local police numbers
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
trinidad and tobago:
Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Trinidad and tobago | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | TT$ 1,000 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | TT$ 1,500 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | TT$ 2,000, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail | Yes, sometimes possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,000
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,500
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 2,000, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
trinidad and tobago:
Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; typically within 15-30 days
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay