Driving in the UK vs Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of the United Kingdom and Venezuela, drivers encounter striking contrasts in regulations and practices that impact their safety. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and signaling protocols, understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure journey. Explore the crucial aspects that set these two countries apart for a safer travel experience.
Lanes
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid White Line | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). | No crossing or lane changes allowed. |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. | No crossing in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Near schools | Railroad crossings |
| 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 sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
united kingdom:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid White Line
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
venezuela:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
venezuela:
No crossing in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
venezuela:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
united kingdom:
Near schools
venezuela:
Railroad crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
united kingdom:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
united kingdom:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
united kingdom:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30 mph | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 mph in some areas | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50 mph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 mph | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 mph | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 mph | 70-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
united kingdom:
30 mph
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
united kingdom:
60 mph
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
united kingdom:
50 mph
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
united kingdom:
50 mph
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
united kingdom:
70 mph
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
united kingdom:
60 mph
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
united kingdom:
60 mph
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Speed Units
united kingdom:
mph
venezuela:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
united kingdom:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go, not used in the USA | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
venezuela:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
venezuela:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not permitted in the UK | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Left turns permitted; use caution | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed except where prohibited by signage | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Left Turn: General
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
venezuela:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Left Turn: At Intersections
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
venezuela:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
U- Turns Allowed
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not displayed; records are electronic | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
united kingdom:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines apply | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
united kingdom:
0.02%
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit | Use for first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
venezuela:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Right
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
venezuela:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 112 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
united kingdom:
999 or 112
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
united kingdom:
999 or 112
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| United kingdom | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | £100 fine | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | £200 and 6 penalty points | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | £100 fine and 3 penalty points | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, sometimes possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
united kingdom:
£100 fine
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay