Driving Safely: Bahrain vs. Romania Differences
When exploring the diverse driving landscapes of Bahrain and Romania, it's essential to understand their unique regulations and practices. Key distinctions, such as speed limits, lane markings, and enforcement of traffic laws, play a crucial role in ensuring road safety. This comparison highlights the vital variations that every traveler should know before embarking on their journey.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead 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. | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| 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 | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
romania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
romania:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
romania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 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 |
| 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: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Romania |
| 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; restrictions apply in some areas |
| 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 | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
romania:
Not used in Romania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
romania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
romania:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
romania:
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
romania:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Yes, periodic inspections 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
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| 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 | Considerable fines for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
romania:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
romania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
bahrain:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist