Driving in Barbados vs. Georgia: Key Safety Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is vital for safe navigation. In this comparison of Barbados and Georgia, you'll discover distinct contrasts in driving sides, lane usage, and speed limits. While Barbados drives on the left with lower speed limits, Georgia operates on the right, emphasizing higher speeds and additional lane markings. Stay informed for a smoother journey!
Lanes
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
georgia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
georgia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
georgia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
georgia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
georgia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
georgia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 110-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
georgia:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
georgia:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
georgia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
georgia:
110-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
georgia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
georgia:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
georgia:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Georgian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
georgia:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
georgia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
georgia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| 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; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
georgia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
georgia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
georgia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
georgia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
georgia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 112 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
georgia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
georgia:
112
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
georgia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | 50 GEL |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | 10 GEL |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | 200 GEL |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Possible; but usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
georgia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
georgia:
50 GEL
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
georgia:
10 GEL
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
georgia:
200 GEL
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days