Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Guatemala Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Barbados and Guatemala, two vibrant destinations with unique driving cultures. From differing lane usage and speed limits to distinct alcohol restrictions, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Explore how these nations' traffic norms shape the driving experience and prioritize road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Varies by location. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
guatemala:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
guatemala:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
guatemala:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
guatemala:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
guatemala:
Varies by location.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 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 | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
guatemala:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
guatemala:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
guatemala:
90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
barbados:
Yes
guatemala:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Guatemala |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Varies, check local signs for permission |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | More 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
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies by locality; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
guatemala:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
guatemala:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
guatemala:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
guatemala:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 110 |
| 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
guatemala:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
guatemala:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; check with local authorities |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
guatemala:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
guatemala:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities