Bahrain vs Turkey: A Driving Safety Comparison
When comparing the road regulations of Bahrain and Turkey, several distinct contrasts emerge that can significantly impact travelers. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol tolerance, understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Explore how these two nations prioritize road etiquette and safety for their drivers.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if 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 with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| 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.
turkey:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
turkey:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
turkey:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
turkey:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
turkey:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
turkey:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
turkey:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 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, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| 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 | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
turkey:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
turkey:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
turkey:
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
turkey:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| 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
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| 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; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
turkey:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
turkey:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges