Driving in Barbados vs. Jordan: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Barbados and Jordan, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences. Notably, Barbados drives on the left side while Jordan adheres to the right. Speed limits, overtaking rules, and vehicle requirements further illustrate the contrasts, emphasizing the importance of understanding local regulations for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the edge of the roadway. |
| 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 only on multi-lane urban roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | No specific bus lanes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited; primarily in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicular traffic. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Cycle symbols where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
jordan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
jordan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
jordan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
jordan:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-100 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 | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes; common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
jordan:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
jordan:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
jordan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
jordan:
Yes; common.
Signals
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not typically used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | To avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
jordan:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Allowed
barbados:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jordan:
To avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
jordan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
jordan:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Moderate use is common |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
jordan:
Moderate use is common
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
jordan:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
jordan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
jordan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
jordan:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
jordan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
jordan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 911 |
| 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
jordan:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
jordan:
911
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
jordan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes, occasionally |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
jordan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
jordan:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay