Driving in Bahrain vs. Serbia: Key Differences Explained
Explore the fascinating distinctions in road rules and regulations between Bahrain and Serbia. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol tolerance and emergency contacts, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Discover how these two countries prioritize safety on their unique roadways.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
serbia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
serbia:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
serbia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Serbia |
| 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 | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
serbia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
serbia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
serbia:
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
serbia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| 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; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Substantial, varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
serbia:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay