Driving in Barbados vs. Egypt: Key Safety Differences
Explore the distinct road regulations and driving customs in Barbados and Egypt to enhance your travel experience. Key highlights include Barbados's left-side driving and lower speed limits compared to Egypt's right-side traffic and higher speed thresholds. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Typically used by buses and minibuses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Not consistently marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often unmarked. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Fixed speed limits. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
egypt:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
egypt:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
egypt:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
egypt:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
egypt:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
egypt:
Often unmarked.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Fixed speed limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes; fines are often paid immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
egypt:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
egypt:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
egypt:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
egypt:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
egypt:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
Signals
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Egypt |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Fines can occur for excessive misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To signal other drivers or warn of presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not officially regulated |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used in some situations due to high traffic density |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangles with a red border and white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
Horn Usage: Allowed
barbados:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
Horn Usage: Penalties
barbados:
Fines may apply for misuse
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
barbados:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
barbados:
Not to be used to signal other messages
egypt:
Not officially regulated
Hand Signals: Common Usage
barbados:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
Turns
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid driver's license required | Valid Egyptian driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Provided after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
barbados:
Valid driver's license required
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
egypt:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged, fines may apply | Common in high traffic areas |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, though not always observed |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used |
| 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 | Give way and allow passage |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
barbados:
Discouraged, fines may apply
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
barbados:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
Use Of Horn: Limited
barbados:
Only in emergency situations
egypt:
Commonly used
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
Alcohol
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| 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%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Conducted frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in penalties and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
egypt:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
egypt:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
egypt:
Conducted frequently
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
egypt:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
egypt:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
egypt:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 122 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
egypt:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
egypt:
122
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
egypt:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Significant fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes; fines are often paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically within a few weeks |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks