Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Belize Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road rules is essential for ensuring safe travels. This comparison between Barbados and Belize uncovers key distinctions, such as driving sides, speed regulations, and traffic etiquette. For instance, Barbados drives on the left, while Belize adheres to right-side driving, significantly impacting your experience on the road.
Lanes
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
belize:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
belize:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
belize:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
belize:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
belize:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
belize:
Use rightmost lane.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 25 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 25 mph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 40-55 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 40-55 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 40-55 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 55-65 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 55-65 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 55-65 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
belize:
25 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
belize:
25 mph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
belize:
40-55 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
belize:
40-55 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
belize:
40-55 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
belize:
55-65 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
belize:
55-65 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
belize:
55-65 mph
Speed Units
barbados:
km/h
belize:
mph
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
barbados:
Yes
belize:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
Signals
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Belize |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
belize:
Not used in Belize
Turns
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Mandatory annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
belize:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
belize:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
belize:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
belize:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
belize:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
barbados:
Signal left when preparing to exit
belize:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
belize:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 911 |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
belize:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
belize:
911
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; significant fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes, fines are often collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
belize:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
belize:
Varies; significant fines
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
belize:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay