Driving in the Bahamas vs. Israel: Key Safety Differences
The driving landscape in the Bahamas and Israel reveals intriguing contrasts that travelers should be aware of. Notably, while the Bahamas drives on the left, Israel adheres to the right. From varying speed limits to unique lane regulations, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safe travels in these diverse regions.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
israel:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
israel:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
israel:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 80 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 | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80-100 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
israel:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
israel:
80-100 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
israel:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Used before green light. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahamas:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Annual inspection required; proof may be 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 | Not mandatory but recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to 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
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
israel:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Check 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 | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail