Driving in the Bahamas vs. Dominican Republic: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, it's crucial to understand their driving regulations and practices. Notably, the Bahamas drives on the left, while the Dominican Republic adheres to right-side navigation. From speed limits to overtaking rules, discover how these variations impact your journey and ensure safety while abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often not marked. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
dominican republic:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
dominican republic:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
dominican republic:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
dominican republic:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
dominican republic:
km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bahamas:
Yes
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Horn Usage: Allowed
bahamas:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
bahamas:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahamas:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
dominican republic:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
dominican republic:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
bahamas:
Can result in license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
dominican republic:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days