Driving in the Bahamas vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of the Bahamas and North Macedonia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices. Key disparities include driving on the left in the Bahamas versus the right in North Macedonia, varying speed limits, and unique traffic signaling methods. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth journey in each destination.
Lanes
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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 with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 120 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
north macedonia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Signals
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bahamas:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahamas:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahamas:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahamas:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bahamas:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay