Driving in the Bahamas vs. Turkey: A Safety Guide
The driving landscape varies significantly between the Bahamas and Turkey, affecting how travelers navigate each country. Key distinctions include the driving side—left in the Bahamas versus right in Turkey—and speed limits, which are notably higher in Turkey. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if 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 with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| 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
turkey:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
turkey:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
turkey:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
turkey:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
turkey:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 90 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 | 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, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
turkey:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
turkey:
90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
turkey:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahamas:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahamas:
Yes
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahamas:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| 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
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
turkey:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
turkey:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahamas:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
turkey:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges