Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Greece for Travelers
When navigating the roads of Barbados and Greece, travelers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. From varying speed limits to lane usage, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring safe journeys. Whether you're overtaking on the left in Barbados or adhering to bus lane restrictions in Greece, knowledge is your best ally on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
greece:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
greece:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
greece:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
greece:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
greece:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
greece:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
greece:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
greece:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
greece:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
greece:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
greece:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Greece |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
greece:
Not used in Greece
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
greece:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not 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 | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections 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 | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Common; police may set up roadblocks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
greece:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
greece:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
greece:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
greece:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 10400 for ELPA assistance |
| 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
greece:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
greece:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
greece:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
greece:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | €350, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €350, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically 10 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
greece:
€350, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
greece:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
greece:
€350, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay