Driving in Bahrain vs. Israel: Key Differences Revealed
When comparing the driving landscapes of Bahrain and Israel, distinct contrasts emerge that can significantly impact road safety. From lane markings and speed regulations to alcohol limits and emergency contacts, understanding these nuances is crucial for travelers. Delve into the key differences that can enhance your driving experience in these two unique countries.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| 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 |
| 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.
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
israel:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
israel:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
israel:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
israel:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Used before green light. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances 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 | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
israel:
Used before green light.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
israel:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
israel:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
israel:
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
israel:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| 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 | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
israel:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
israel:
0.01%
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
israel:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
israel:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Check local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay