Driving Differences: Bahamas vs. El Salvador Explained
When exploring the roads of the Bahamas and El Salvador, drivers must navigate distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. Notably, the Bahamas drives on the left side, while El Salvador adheres to the right. From speed limits to road etiquette, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
el salvador:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
el salvador:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 20-30 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
el salvador:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bahamas:
Yes
el salvador:
No
Signals
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not common in El Salvador |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| 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
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahamas:
Signal when exiting
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Mandatory annual inspection |
| 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 |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in some areas to communicate |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Yield and make way |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahamas:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
el salvador:
Yield and make way
Alcohol
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| 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 | Substantial fines and penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
el salvador:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
el salvador:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
el salvador:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
el salvador:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 120 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 121 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
el salvador:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
el salvador:
120
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
el salvador:
121
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; $20 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | $20 to $50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | $30 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | $50 to $200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Yes, frequently enforced |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
el salvador:
$20 to $50
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
el salvador:
$30 to $100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
el salvador:
$50 to $200
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay