Driving Differences: Bahrain vs. Tunisia Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and travel norms between Bahrain and Tunisia. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol tolerance, these two countries present unique challenges for travelers. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad. Buckle up for essential insights into navigating these diverse driving landscapes!
Lanes
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 permitted. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | N/A |
| 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. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
tunisia:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 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
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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 and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
tunisia:
Not typically used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
tunisia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
tunisia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
tunisia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
tunisia:
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
tunisia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bahrain:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| 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 broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Substantial; varies by offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
tunisia:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay