Driving in the Bahamas vs. Venezuela: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of the Bahamas and Venezuela, travelers must be aware of key distinctions that impact their journey. The Bahamas drives on the left, while Venezuela adheres to right-side travel. Additionally, roadside regulations, speed limits, and emergency protocols vary significantly, making it essential for drivers to familiarize themselves with these unique rules for a safe experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, usually in larger cities |
| 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 | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 70-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
venezuela:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Signals
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 171 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
venezuela:
171
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible