Driving in the Bahamas vs. Bolivia: Key Differences
Driving in the Bahamas and Bolivia presents unique challenges and rules that every traveler should know. From contrasting lane usage to varying speed limits and alcohol regulations, understanding these crucial distinctions ensures a safer journey. Dive into our comprehensive comparison to navigate the roads of these two captivating countries with confidence.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Not common. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
bolivia:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
bolivia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
bolivia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No, not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
bolivia:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
bolivia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
bolivia:
km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bahamas:
Yes
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
Signals
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Bolivia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Only to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
Horn Usage: Allowed
bahamas:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahamas:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
bolivia:
Spanish
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahamas:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints often used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies, can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
bolivia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
bolivia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
bolivia:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
bolivia:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
bolivia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
bolivia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; may result in points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines may apply, varies by location |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines apply and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
bolivia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly