Driving in The Bahamas vs. Oman: Key Safety Differences
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations between the Bahamas and Oman to enhance your travel safety. While the Bahamas features left-side driving and slower speed limits, Oman operates on the right with significantly higher speed thresholds. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for a secure and enjoyable driving experience in either destination.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
oman:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
oman:
No
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
oman:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
oman:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
oman:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 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 | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 100 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
oman:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
oman:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
oman:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
oman:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
oman:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
oman:
100 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
oman:
km/h
Signals
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Oman |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
oman:
Not used in Oman
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahamas:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
oman:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| 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 | Regular inspection 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 | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
oman:
Regular inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
oman:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
oman:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Use more frequent 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
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| 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 |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
oman:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
oman:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
oman:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
bahamas:
Can result in license suspension
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
oman:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 9999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 9999 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
oman:
9999
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
oman:
9999
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| 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 may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; ensure timely payment |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
oman:
Fines can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
oman:
Common
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment