Driving in Bahrain vs. France: Key Differences You Must Know
When navigating the roads of Bahrain and France, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include varying lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol laws. While Bahrain enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving, France allows a slight margin. Explore these contrasts to enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
france:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
france:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 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: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 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, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
france:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
france:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
france:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
france:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
france:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in France |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; 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 | French; 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
france:
Not used in France
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
france:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
france:
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
france:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
france:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
france:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 if not specifically prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
france:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
france:
Accepted for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| 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 used regularly |
| 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%
france:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
france:
0.02%
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
france:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
france:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
france:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering if turning right |
Signaling: Entering
bahrain:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 17 or through local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
france:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
france:
17 or through local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
france:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
france:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | €135 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | €135 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | €135 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 45 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
france:
€135
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
france:
€135
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
france:
€135
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay