Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Croatia Safety Tips
Driving in Barbados and Croatia presents distinct contrasts that are crucial for travelers. While Barbados follows left-side traffic, Croatia adheres to right-side rules. Speed limits vary significantly, with urban areas in Croatia allowing higher speeds. Additionally, understanding road etiquette and the use of emergency equipment is vital for ensuring safety in both nations.
Lanes
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not commonly practiced. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
croatia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
croatia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
croatia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
croatia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
croatia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
croatia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
croatia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
croatia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
croatia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
croatia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
croatia:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Croatian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
croatia:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
barbados:
Signal when exiting
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
croatia:
Triangle with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
croatia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens |
| 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 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
croatia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
croatia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
croatia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
croatia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
croatia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
croatia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
croatia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
croatia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
croatia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 92 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 188 or check with your insurance provider |
| 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
croatia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
croatia:
92
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
croatia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
croatia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; significant fines possible |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Significant fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes, often |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; stated at the time of fine |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
croatia:
Significant fines
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
croatia:
Yes, often
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine