Driving in the Bahamas vs. Switzerland: Key Differences

When exploring the contrasting driving environments of the Bahamas and Switzerland, travelers can uncover significant distinctions in road regulations and safety practices. From divergent lane usage—left vs. right driving—to varying speed limits and alcohol thresholds, understanding these crucial variations ensures a safer journey abroad. Dive into this comprehensive comparison for essential insights.

bahamasswitzerland

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in bahamas is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bahamas is 52

1.417 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bahamas is 1.417 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Bahamas	Switzerland
Driving Side	Left	Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right	Not allowed.	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
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' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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: 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

switzerland:

Right

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

bahamas:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

bahamas:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

Overtaking: On Right

bahamas:

Not allowed.

switzerland:

Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

bahamas:

Use leftmost lane.

switzerland:

Use rightmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

bahamas:

Not common.

switzerland:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

bahamas:

N/A

switzerland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

bahamas:

N/A

switzerland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

bahamas:

switzerland:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

bahamas:

N/A

switzerland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

bahamas:

N/A

switzerland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

bahamas:

N/A

switzerland:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

bahamas:

switzerland:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

bahamas:

N/A

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Bahamas	Switzerland
Urban Areas: Standard	25 mph	30-50 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	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	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
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Urban Areas: Standard

bahamas:

25 mph

switzerland:

30-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

bahamas:

25 mph

switzerland:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

bahamas:

45 mph

switzerland:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

bahamas:

45 mph

switzerland:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

bahamas:

45 mph

switzerland:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

bahamas:

No highways

switzerland:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

bahamas:

No highways

switzerland:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

bahamas:

No highways

switzerland:

80 km/h

Speed Units

bahamas:

mph

switzerland:

km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

bahamas:

switzerland:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

bahamas:

N/A

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

bahamas:

Yes

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Signals

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	Bahamas	Switzerland
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used	Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language	English; symbols are standard	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangular-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

bahamas:

Not used

switzerland:

Prepare to go

Traffic Signs: Language

bahamas:

English; symbols are standard

switzerland:

Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used

Traffic Signs: Warning

bahamas:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Bahamas		Switzerland
Right Turn On Red	Prohibited		Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by location; check for signs		Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Right Turn On Red

bahamas:

Prohibited

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

U- Turns Allowed

bahamas:

Varies by location; check for signs

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Documentation

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	Bahamas	Switzerland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
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

switzerland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

bahamas:

Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

bahamas:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bahamas:

Not mandatory

switzerland:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Bahamas		Switzerland
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

switzerland:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Bahamas	Switzerland
Limits: General Drivers	0.08%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Less common; checkpoints used in some areas	Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

bahamas:

0.08%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

bahamas:

0.00%; zero tolerance

switzerland:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

bahamas:

Less common; checkpoints used in some areas

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

Enforcement: Fines

bahamas:

Varies; can be substantial

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

Test Refusal

bahamas:

Can result in license suspension

switzerland:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

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	Bahamas	Switzerland
Signaling: Entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry	No signaling normally required when entering
Signaling: Exiting	Signal left when preparing to exit	Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight	Use for the first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

bahamas:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

Signaling: Exiting

bahamas:

Signal left when preparing to exit

switzerland:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Lane Usage: Right

bahamas:

Use for first exit or straight

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	Bahamas	Switzerland
Contact: General Emergency	919	112
Contact: Traffic Police	911	117
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider	140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

bahamas:

919

switzerland:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

bahamas:

911

switzerland:

117

Contact: Roadside Assistance

bahamas:

Check with your insurance provider

switzerland:

140

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bahamas:

Not mandatory, but recommended

switzerland:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Bahamas	Switzerland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; $50 to $500, points on license	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts	$25 to $200, points may apply	CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use	$50 to $300, points may apply	CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	$100 to $500, points on license	Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; can also be paid online or by mail	Common; fines can be issued on the spot
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

switzerland:

Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

bahamas:

$25 to $200, points may apply

switzerland:

CHF 60

Common Fines: Phone Use

bahamas:

$50 to $300, points may apply

switzerland:

CHF 100

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

bahamas:

$100 to $500, points on license

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

bahamas:

Yes; can also be paid online or by mail

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

bahamas:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay