Driving Differences: Argentina vs. Barbados
When exploring the roads of Argentina and Barbados, understanding their distinct driving norms is vital for a safe journey. Key contrasts include the driving side—right in Argentina versus left in Barbados—and variations in speed limits and road etiquette. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances will ensure a smoother experience behind the wheel in either locale.
Lanes
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in Barbados. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| 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
barbados:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
argentina:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
barbados:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
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
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
barbados:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
barbados:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
barbados:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
barbados:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
barbados:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
barbados:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible in some cases |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
barbados:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
barbados:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
barbados:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
barbados:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
barbados:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
barbados:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
barbados:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
barbados:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
barbados:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
barbados:
Possible in some cases
Signals
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Barbados |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed, follow traffic signals |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Usually not required for non-residents |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | N/A for non-resident vehicles |
| 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
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
barbados:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
barbados:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | 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
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 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 | Common | Less common; checkpoints can be used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
barbados:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
barbados:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
Roundabouts
| Argentina | 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
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
barbados:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
argentina:
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
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 211 or 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 211 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
barbados:
211 or 911
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
barbados:
211
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Barbados | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines for not wearing seatbelts |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Possible in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
barbados:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
barbados:
Possible in some cases
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay