Driving Differences: Afghanistan vs. Barbados
When exploring the roads of Afghanistan and Barbados, drivers encounter notable distinctions in traffic rules and regulations. Key contrasts include driving sides—right in Afghanistan versus left in Barbados—and varying speed limits, particularly in rural areas. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and smooth journey in each unique environment.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used in Barbados. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used in Barbados. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
barbados:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
Overtaking: On Left
afghanistan:
Yes
barbados:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Possible in some cases |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
barbados:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
barbados:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
barbados:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
barbados:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
barbados:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
barbados:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
barbados:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
barbados:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
barbados:
Possible in some cases
Signals
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Barbados |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed, follow traffic signals |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Usually not required for non-residents |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | N/A for non-resident vehicles |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Less common; checkpoints can be used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
barbados:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
barbados:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
afghanistan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
barbados:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
afghanistan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 211 or 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 211 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
barbados:
211 or 911
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
barbados:
211
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Possible in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
barbados:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
barbados:
Possible in some cases
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay