Azerbaijan vs. Bahamas: Key Driving Differences Explained
Azerbaijan and the Bahamas present intriguing contrasts in their road regulations and driving customs. Notably, Azerbaijan drives on the right side, while the Bahamas opts for the left. Speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations also differ significantly, emphasizing the importance of understanding these variations to ensure a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the center on undivided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | In some cases, such as if 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 primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Often designated for buses and public transport. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
azerbaijan:
Right
bahamas:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
azerbaijan:
Marks the center on undivided roads.
bahamas:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
azerbaijan:
In some cases, such as if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
bahamas:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
azerbaijan:
Use rightmost lane.
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
bahamas:
Not common.
Bus Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Reserved primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles.
bahamas:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs.
bahamas:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
bahamas:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes.
bahamas:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
N/A
bahamas:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
bahamas:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
azerbaijan:
Often designated for buses and public transport.
bahamas:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
bahamas:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
azerbaijan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
bahamas:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 25 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 25 mph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 45 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 45 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 45 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | No highways |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | No highways |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 110 km/h | No highways |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common practice; fines can also be mailed. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
azerbaijan:
40-60 km/h
bahamas:
25 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
azerbaijan:
20 km/h
bahamas:
25 mph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
bahamas:
45 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Highways: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
bahamas:
No highways
Speed Units
azerbaijan:
km/h
bahamas:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
bahamas:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
azerbaijan:
Electronic signs display current limits
bahamas:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
azerbaijan:
Common practice; fines can also be mailed.
bahamas:
Yes
Signals
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Azerbaijan | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Azerbaijani; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
azerbaijan:
Not used in Azerbaijan
bahamas:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
azerbaijan:
Azerbaijani; symbols are standard
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
azerbaijan:
Triangle-shaped with red border
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
azerbaijan:
Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown
bahamas:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
azerbaijan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual technical inspection required | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided upon successful inspection | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
azerbaijan:
Annual technical inspection required
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
azerbaijan:
Provided upon successful inspection
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | 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
azerbaijan:
Moderate use compared to some countries
bahamas:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
azerbaijan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasional; fines and penalties apply | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.03%
bahamas:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.00%
bahamas:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
azerbaijan:
Occasional; fines and penalties apply
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
azerbaijan:
Can be substantial
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
azerbaijan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 919 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 102 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or local service | 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
azerbaijan:
112
bahamas:
919
Contact: Traffic Police
azerbaijan:
102
bahamas:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
azerbaijan:
Call your insurance provider or local service
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Significant fines | $25 to $200, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Significant fines, possible license points | $50 to $300, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, points on license | $100 to $500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail |
Common Fines: Speeding
azerbaijan:
Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
azerbaijan:
Significant fines
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, possible license points
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, points on license
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
azerbaijan:
Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail