Driving in The Bahamas vs. Cuba: Key Safety Tips
When venturing from the Bahamas to Cuba, understanding the diverse road regulations is crucial for safe travel. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and unique traffic protocols. Familiarizing yourself with these essential contrasts will enhance your journey and ensure a secure experience in both stunning island destinations.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Not common. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
cuba:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahamas:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
cuba:
No
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30-40 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 | 50-70 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 | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
cuba:
km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bahamas:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Cuba |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use than in some countries |
| 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
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
cuba:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay