Driving in Barbados vs. Dominican Republic: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Barbados and the Dominican Republic, drivers will encounter notable distinctions in regulations and practices. From driving sides and speed limits to lane usage and emergency protocols, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Stay informed to navigate safely and confidently in these vibrant Caribbean nations.
Lanes
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often not marked. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
dominican republic:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
dominican republic:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
dominican republic:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
dominican republic:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
dominican republic:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
dominican republic:
90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
barbados:
Yes
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Horn Usage: Allowed
barbados:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
dominican republic:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
barbados:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
dominican republic:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
dominican republic:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
dominican republic:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
dominican republic:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days