Bahrain vs. Fiji: Unique Driving Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Bahrain and Fiji, understanding the contrasting driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Bahrain versus the left in Fiji, varying speed limits, and unique traffic signal practices. Dive into our comprehensive comparison to ensure your driving experience abroad remains secure and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost 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. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | N/A |
Driving Side
bahrain:
Right
fiji:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
Overtaking: On Left
bahrain:
Yes
fiji:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
fiji:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
fiji:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahrain:
Use rightmost lane.
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes
fiji:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
fiji:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
fiji:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
fiji:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahrain:
50 km/h
fiji:
50 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
fiji:
30 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
fiji:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
fiji:
60 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
fiji:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
fiji:
90 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Speed Units
bahrain:
km/h
fiji:
kph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Signals
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Fiji |
| 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; fines can 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 | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
fiji:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
fiji:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
fiji:
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
fiji:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 only where indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
fiji:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 vehicle inspections are mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; 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 | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Substantial fines, potential loss of license |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
fiji:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
fiji:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
fiji:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
fiji:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones |
| 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
fiji:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; $50 to $500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines can apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines apply; obey signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days