Driving in Algeria vs. Bahamas: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Algeria and the Bahamas, drivers encounter distinct regulations and customs that impact their travel experience. Key disparities include driving sides—right in Algeria and left in the Bahamas—as well as speed limits and traffic signals. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except on one-way roads. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Not common. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Not applicable | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not applicable | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Not applicable | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Not applicable | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
algeria:
Right
bahamas:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
algeria:
Prohibited except on one-way roads.
bahamas:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
algeria:
Use rightmost lane.
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
algeria:
No
bahamas:
Not common.
Bus Lanes: Usage
algeria:
Not applicable
bahamas:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
algeria:
Not applicable
bahamas:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
algeria:
Not applicable
bahamas:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
algeria:
Not applicable
bahamas:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
algeria:
Not applicable
bahamas:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
algeria:
Not applicable
bahamas:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 25 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 25 mph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 45 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 45 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 45 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | No highways |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | No highways |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | No highways |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
algeria:
50 km/h
bahamas:
25 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
algeria:
50 km/h
bahamas:
25 mph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
algeria:
100 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
algeria:
90 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
algeria:
80 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
algeria:
120 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Highways: Buses And Vans
algeria:
100 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
algeria:
90 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Speed Units
algeria:
km/h
bahamas:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
algeria:
Not applicable
bahamas:
N/A
Signals
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Usually triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
algeria:
Not typically used
bahamas:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
algeria:
Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bahamas:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
algeria:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
algeria:
Usually triangular with red borders
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
algeria:
Usually not allowed unless indicated
bahamas:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
algeria:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
algeria:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
algeria:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
algeria:
Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
algeria:
Displayed on windshield
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
algeria:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
algeria:
Recommended
bahamas:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| 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
algeria:
More frequent use than in some countries
bahamas:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
algeria:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks
bahamas:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
algeria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Checkpoints used especially on holidays | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
algeria:
0.02%
bahamas:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
algeria:
0.00%
bahamas:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
algeria:
Checkpoints used especially on holidays
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Roundabouts
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
algeria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 1548 | 919 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or auto club | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
algeria:
1548
bahamas:
919
Contact: Traffic Police
algeria:
17
bahamas:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
algeria:
Contact insurance provider or auto club
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
algeria:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
algeria:
Recommended
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Algeria | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed for non-compliance | $25 to $200, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed for non-compliance | $50 to $300, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines imposed, may include points on license | $100 to $500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; also through post or bank | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid promptly | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
algeria:
Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
algeria:
Heavy fines, possible jail time
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
algeria:
Fines imposed for non-compliance
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
algeria:
Fines imposed for non-compliance
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
algeria:
Fines imposed, may include points on license
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
algeria:
Possible; also through post or bank
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
algeria:
Varies; typically must be paid promptly
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay