Driving in the Bahamas vs. Paraguay: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts between driving in the Bahamas and Paraguay, where road regulations and practices significantly differ. Key distinctions include driving on the left in the Bahamas versus the right in Paraguay, along with varied speed limits and traffic protocols. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Not common. | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
paraguay:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
paraguay:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bahamas:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
paraguay:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahamas:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
bahamas:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; police checkpoints |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
paraguay:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 911 |
| 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
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days