Driving Differences: Bahamas vs. Spain for Safe Travel
When exploring the roads of the Bahamas and Spain, drivers will encounter notable variations in regulations and practices. Key distinctions include the driving side—left in the Bahamas versus right in Spain—as well as speed limits and lane usage. Understanding these driving nuances is essential for a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| 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 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
spain:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
spain:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
spain:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 70-80 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 | 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, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
spain:
90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
spain:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| 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
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
spain:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
bahamas:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
spain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.