Driving in Bahrain vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Bahrain and North Macedonia, understanding the distinct traffic regulations and practices is crucial for safe navigation. From lane markings to speed limits, these nations exhibit notable variations. For instance, Bahrain enforces a strict zero-alcohol policy while North Macedonia allows a slight limit. Discover essential driving nuances for a secure experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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 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 marked paths. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
north macedonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
north macedonia:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Prepare to go |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| 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
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
north macedonia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
north macedonia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bahrain:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Conducted 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%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
north macedonia:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay