Driving in the Bahamas vs. Canada: Key Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is vital for safety. This comparison between the Bahamas and Canada reveals significant contrasts, such as driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. While the Bahamas adheres to left-side driving, Canada employs right-side regulations, making it essential for travelers to familiarize themselves with these key distinctions for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Not common. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
canada:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahamas:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahamas:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
canada:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
canada:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
canada:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
canada:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 90-110 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, but varies by province |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
canada:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
canada:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
canada:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
canada:
90-110 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
canada:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
Signals
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Canada |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
canada:
Not used in Canada
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
Turns
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by province and locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Mandatory liability insurance |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Insurance
bahamas:
Liability insurance mandatory
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%, zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by province; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
canada:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Depends on province; often 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or CAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
canada:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Varies; often upwards of $200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail