Driving Differences: Bahamas vs. Russia Safety Insights
When navigating the roads of the Bahamas versus Russia, understanding the contrasting regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring safety. Key distinctions include driving on the left in the Bahamas versus the right in Russia, varying speed limits, and differing protocols for emergency vehicles. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances is essential for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. |
| 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahamas:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
russia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
russia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
russia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 70-80 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 | 90 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 | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
russia:
90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
russia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Russia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Russian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
russia:
Not used in Russia
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| 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
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
russia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.035% |
| 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, especially in cities |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
russia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay