Driving in Barbados vs. Bolivia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Barbados and Bolivia, drivers face distinct regulations and practices that shape their journeys. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Barbados versus the right in Bolivia, as well as varying speed limits and lane usage. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
bolivia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
bolivia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
bolivia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
bolivia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No, not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes, fines can be issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
bolivia:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
bolivia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
barbados:
Yes
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
Signals
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Bolivia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Only to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
Horn Usage: Allowed
barbados:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
bolivia:
Spanish
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; checkpoints often used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies, can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
bolivia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
bolivia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
bolivia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
bolivia:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
bolivia:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
bolivia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
bolivia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; may result in points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines may apply, varies by location |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
bolivia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
bolivia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly