Driving in Bahrain vs. Jordan: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Bahrain and Jordan, understanding the driving regulations is crucial for safe travels. Key disparities include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance, with Bahrain enforcing stricter zero-alcohol policies. This comparison reveals essential insights to help ensure a secure driving experience in these two distinct regions.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the edge of the roadway. |
| 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. | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No specific bus lanes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Limited; primarily in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Shared with vehicular traffic. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | Cycle symbols where applicable. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
jordan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
jordan:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
jordan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes; common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahrain:
50 km/h
jordan:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
jordan:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
jordan:
Yes; common.
Signals
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not typically used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | To avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse |
| 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: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
jordan:
Not typically used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
jordan:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
bahrain:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jordan:
To avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
jordan:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
jordan:
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
jordan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
jordan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Annual inspections required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
jordan:
Annual inspections required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Moderate use is common |
| 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
jordan:
Moderate use is common
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 at checkpoints |
| 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%
jordan:
0.05%
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
jordan:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
jordan:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
jordan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
jordan:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
jordan:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes, occasionally |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
jordan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
jordan:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay