Driving in Barbados vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in roadway regulations and travel practices between Barbados and Japan. From speed limits and overtaking rules to the presence of bus and cycle lanes, this comparison highlights essential variations that can impact your journey. Ensure your driving experience abroad is both enjoyable and secure by familiarizing yourself with these key distinctions.
Lanes
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the right 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 | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Generally used sparingly |
Flashing Lights: Usage
barbados:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Alcohol
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
japan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
japan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Rare; fines 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
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days