Driving Differences: Bahamas vs. Italy Revealed
When comparing road practices between the Bahamas and Italy, distinct variations emerge that are crucial for travelers. From driving sides to speed regulations, the Bahamas adheres to left-hand maneuvering, while Italy opts for right. Understanding these contrasts ensures safer journeys and promotes a smoother experience on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
italy:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahamas:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahamas:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
italy:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
italy:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
italy:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
italy:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
italy:
80 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
italy:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| 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 |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
italy:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
italy:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
italy:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
italy:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days