Driving in the Bahamas vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
When traversing the roads of the Bahamas and Saudi Arabia, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. The Bahamas adheres to left-side driving with strict overtaking rules, while Saudi Arabia promotes right-side driving, allowing overtaking on multi-lane roads. Explore these vital contrasts to navigate safely abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 100 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
saudi arabia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
bahamas:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
bahamas:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 993 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer