Driving in Argentina vs. Bahamas: Key Differences Explained
When venturing from Argentina to the Bahamas, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a secure journey. Major distinctions include driving on opposite sides and varying speed limits, with Argentina favoring km/h while the Bahamas utilizes mph. Familiarizing yourself with these variances will ensure a smoother and safer travel experience.
Lanes
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Not common. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
bahamas:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
bahamas:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
bahamas:
Not common.
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
bahamas:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
bahamas:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
bahamas:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
bahamas:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
bahamas:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
bahamas:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
bahamas:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 25 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25 mph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 45 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 45 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 45 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | No highways |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | No highways |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | No highways |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
bahamas:
25 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
bahamas:
25 mph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Speed Units
argentina:
km/h
bahamas:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
bahamas:
N/A
Signals
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
bahamas:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
bahamas:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | 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 | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
bahamas:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
bahamas:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
bahamas:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Roundabouts
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 919 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
bahamas:
919
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
bahamas:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | $25 to $200, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | $50 to $300, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | $100 to $500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail