Bahrain vs. Croatia: Driving Differences You Need to Know
When navigating the roads of Bahrain and Croatia, understanding the nuances of traffic rules is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations, reflecting each nation's unique driving culture. Familiarizing yourself with these variations will enhance your safety and confidence while driving abroad.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
croatia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
croatia:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
croatia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
croatia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
croatia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
croatia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
croatia:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Croatian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangle with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
croatia:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
croatia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
croatia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
croatia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
croatia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
croatia:
Triangle with red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
croatia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
croatia:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
croatia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
croatia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
croatia:
0.05%
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
croatia:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
croatia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
croatia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 92 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | 188 or check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
croatia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
croatia:
92
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
croatia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
croatia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; significant fines possible |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Significant fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes, often |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; stated at the time of fine |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
croatia:
Significant fines
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
croatia:
Yes, often
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine