Driving Differences: Bahamas vs. Mexico Safety Guide
When exploring the roads of the Bahamas and Mexico, distinct regulations and practices come to light. Key differences include the driving side—left in the Bahamas versus right in Mexico—and varied speed limits. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in each vibrant destination.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
mexico:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
mexico:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
mexico:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-60 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 | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80-100 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
mexico:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
mexico:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
mexico:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
mexico:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
mexico:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
mexico:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments