Driving in Argentina vs. Bahrain: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Argentina and Bahrain, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for safe navigation. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol tolerance, with Bahrain enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy on alcohol while Argentina allows a slight limit. Familiarizing yourself with these variations ensures a smoother and safer driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, but limited. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily on designated routes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and white lines. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
argentina:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
argentina:
List length: 5
bahrain:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
bahrain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
bahrain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
Signals
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Bahrain |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Fines for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
argentina:
Signal when exiting
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
argentina:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
Horn Usage: Penalties
argentina:
Fines may apply for misuse
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
argentina:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
argentina:
Not to be used to signal other messages
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
Turns
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
Documentation
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit often required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended, but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended, but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Moderate horn use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during nighttime |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and legal actions |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
bahrain:
0.00%
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
argentina:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
Test Refusal
argentina:
Can result in license suspension
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended, but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended, but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
bahrain:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
bahrain:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Heavy fines, possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Possible; fines can also be paid online |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay