Driving Differences: Bahamas vs. Serbia Explained
The comparison between driving in the Bahamas and Serbia unveils intriguing contrasts that are crucial for safe travel. Key distinctions include the driving side—left in the Bahamas versus right in Serbia—and varying speed limits, with Serbia adopting electronic signage for variable limits. Understanding these nuances can significantly enhance your road experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
serbia:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
serbia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
serbia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
serbia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
serbia:
80 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
serbia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
serbia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay