Driving in Bahrain vs. Libya: Key Safety Differences
Bahrain and Libya present unique contrasts in their road regulations and driving habits. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and traffic signals, each significantly impacting road safety. Understanding these variations is crucial for travelers to navigate these diverse environments safely and confidently.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the separation between directions on some roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Not commonly designated. |
| 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. | Not commonly designated. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Generally not used. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
libya:
Marks the separation between directions on some roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
libya:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
libya:
Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
libya:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes
libya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
libya:
Not commonly designated.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
libya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
libya:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
libya:
Not commonly designated.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
libya:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
libya:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
libya:
Generally not used.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Generally not used. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
libya:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
libya:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
libya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
libya:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
libya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
libya:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
libya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
libya:
Generally not used.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
libya:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Libya |
| 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 | Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bahrain:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
libya:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
libya:
Not used in Libya
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
libya:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
libya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
libya:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
libya:
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
libya:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
libya:
Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
libya:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Generally not allowed unless specified |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
libya:
Generally not allowed unless specified
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
libya:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Required for registration and periodically thereafter |
| 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
libya:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
libya:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
libya:
Required for registration and periodically thereafter
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
libya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Possible; 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 |
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
libya:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
libya:
Possible; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
libya:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
libya:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 193 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Varies by area |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
libya:
193
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
libya:
Varies by area
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
libya:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; fines based on severity |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines may apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically required within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
libya:
Varies; fines based on severity
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
libya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
libya:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
libya:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
libya:
Fines may apply
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
libya:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
libya:
Varies; typically required within 30 days