Driving in Barbados vs. Colombia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Barbados and Colombia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. From lane usage to speed limits, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe travel. Experience the unique driving cultures of these two nations as we explore their key contrasts and driving norms.
Lanes
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
colombia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
colombia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
colombia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
colombia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
colombia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
colombia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
colombia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
colombia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
colombia:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
colombia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
colombia:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
colombia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
colombia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
Signals
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Colombia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on 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
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
colombia:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
colombia:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
colombia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
colombia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 123 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 123 or local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services |
| 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
colombia:
123
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
colombia:
123 or local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
colombia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
colombia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; $50 to $300, 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 | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $100 to $300, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations |
| 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
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay