Driving Differences: Bahamas vs. Georgia Explained
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations between the Bahamas and Georgia, vital for ensuring your journey is safe and enjoyable. Notably, the Bahamas drives on the left, while Georgia permits right-side driving. Understanding these key distinctions, from speed limits to emergency protocols, can significantly enhance your overall travel experience.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
georgia:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
georgia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
georgia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
georgia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 20-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 110-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 90-100 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
georgia:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
georgia:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
georgia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
georgia:
110-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
georgia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
georgia:
90-100 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
georgia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Georgian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| 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 used frequently |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
georgia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
georgia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
georgia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
georgia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
georgia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
georgia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | 50 GEL |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | 10 GEL |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | 200 GEL |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Possible; but usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
georgia:
50 GEL
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
georgia:
10 GEL
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
georgia:
200 GEL
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days