Bahrain vs. Cuba: A Driving Safety Comparison
When navigating the roads of Bahrain and Cuba, understanding the contrasting traffic regulations and practices is vital for a secure journey. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol tolerance, both countries have unique rules that can significantly affect your driving experience. Dive into the specifics to ensure your travels are safe and smooth.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahrain:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes
cuba:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
cuba:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
cuba:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahrain:
50 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bahrain:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Cuba |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
cuba:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
cuba:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
cuba:
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
cuba:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | More frequent use than in some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| 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 | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
cuba:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
cuba:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay