Driving Safety Tips: Barbados vs. Cuba
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Barbados and Cuba, two vibrant Caribbean nations. With Barbados driving on the left and Cuba on the right, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring your safety abroad. From speed limits to overtaking rules, our comprehensive comparison highlights the essential nuances for a secure driving experience in each locale.
Lanes
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
cuba:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
cuba:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
barbados:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 50-70 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 | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
barbados:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Cuba |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | More frequent use than in 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
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
cuba:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
cuba:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay