Driving in the Bahamas vs. Croatia: Key Safety Tips
When planning a journey to either the Bahamas or Croatia, it's crucial to understand their unique road regulations and practices. Notable distinctions include driving on the left in the Bahamas versus the right in Croatia, varying speed limits, and diverse rules regarding emergency protocols. Ensuring a safe and smooth trip requires awareness of these vital contrasts.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Not common. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
croatia:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
croatia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
croatia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
croatia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
croatia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
croatia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
croatia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
croatia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
croatia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
croatia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
croatia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
croatia:
90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
croatia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
croatia:
N/A
Signals
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Croatian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle with red border |
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahamas:
Signal when exiting
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
croatia:
Triangle with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
croatia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens |
| 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 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
croatia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
croatia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
croatia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
croatia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
croatia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
croatia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
croatia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
croatia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 92 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 188 or check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
croatia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
croatia:
92
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
croatia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
croatia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; significant fines possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Significant fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Yes, often |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; stated at the time of fine |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
croatia:
Significant fines
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
croatia:
Yes, often
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine