Driving in Antigua and Barbuda vs. Canada: Key Differences
Driving in Antigua and Barbuda presents unique challenges compared to navigating the expansive roads of Canada. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Antigua and Barbuda versus the right in Canada, variations in speed limits, and the presence of dedicated bus and cycle lanes in Canada. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring safe travels abroad.
Lanes
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Overtaking is done on the right. | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses. | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
antigua and barbuda:
Left
canada:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
antigua and barbuda:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
antigua and barbuda:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
antigua and barbuda:
No
canada:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
antigua and barbuda:
Overtaking is done on the right.
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
antigua and barbuda:
Use leftmost lane.
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
canada:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses.
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
Cycle Lanes: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
canada:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles.
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
No
canada:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
canada:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-30 mph | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 mph | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-50 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-50 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-50 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-55 mph | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 50-55 mph | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 50-55 mph | 90-110 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, but varies by province |
Urban Areas: Standard
antigua and barbuda:
20-30 mph
canada:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
antigua and barbuda:
20 mph
canada:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
canada:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
canada:
90-110 km/h
Speed Units
antigua and barbuda:
mph
canada:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
canada:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Yes
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
Signals
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Canada |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border and white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
antigua and barbuda:
Not used
canada:
Not used in Canada
Horn Usage: Penalties
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
canada:
Fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
antigua and barbuda:
English; symbols are standard
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
antigua and barbuda:
Triangular-shaped with red border and white background
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signed otherwise | Varies by province and locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
antigua and barbuda:
Prohibited
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
U- Turns Allowed
antigua and barbuda:
Permitted unless signed otherwise
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Mandatory liability insurance |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Insurance
antigua and barbuda:
Liability insurance mandatory
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
antigua and barbuda:
Periodic inspections required
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
antigua and barbuda:
Displayed on vehicle
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
antigua and barbuda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance; 0.00% | 0.00%, zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties for DUI | Varies by province; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
0.00%
canada:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
Zero tolerance; 0.00%
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
antigua and barbuda:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial penalties for DUI
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
antigua and barbuda:
Signal left when preparing to exit
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary | Depends on province; often 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or CAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
antigua and barbuda:
911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
antigua and barbuda:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Antigua and barbuda | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points in some cases | Varies; often upwards of $200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points in some cases | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be paid immediately | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
Common Fines: Speeding
antigua and barbuda:
Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
antigua and barbuda:
$25 to $200, points in some cases
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
Common Fines: Phone Use
antigua and barbuda:
$50 to $300, points in some cases
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
antigua and barbuda:
$100 to $500, points on license
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
antigua and barbuda:
Yes; fines can be paid immediately
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail