Driving in the Bahamas vs Costa Rica: Key Safety Insights
When exploring the driving landscapes of the Bahamas and Costa Rica, travelers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence road safety. Key differences include driving on the left in the Bahamas versus the right in Costa Rica, varied speed limits, and unique signaling rules. Understanding these nuances is essential for a secure journey in each destination.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
costa rica:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
costa rica:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
costa rica:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
costa rica:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
costa rica:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
costa rica:
80 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
costa rica:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bahamas:
Yes
costa rica:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
Signals
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Costa Rica |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahamas:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
Documentation
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Annual inspection required; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
costa rica:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use is common to signal intentions |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahamas:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints are used throughout |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
costa rica:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
costa rica:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
costa rica:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 911 or direct number depending on location |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
costa rica:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
costa rica:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
costa rica:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines applicable for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Common; police may issue fines on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot