Driving in Barbados vs Lebanon: Key Differences Explained
Are you planning a trip to Barbados or Lebanon? Understanding the unique driving regulations and practices in these two countries can significantly enhance your road safety experience. Key contrasts include Barbados' left-side driving and less stringent speed limits compared to Lebanon's right-side system and stricter enforcement measures. Stay informed and drive safely!
Lanes
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Used as a separation line in some areas. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
lebanon:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
lebanon:
Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
lebanon:
Used as a separation line in some areas.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
lebanon:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
lebanon:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
lebanon:
Use rightmost lane.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
lebanon:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
lebanon:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
lebanon:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
lebanon:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
lebanon:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Lebanon |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
lebanon:
Not used in Lebanon
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
barbados:
Signal when exiting
lebanon:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
lebanon:
Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
lebanon:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
lebanon:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
lebanon:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
lebanon:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
lebanon:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
lebanon:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
lebanon:
Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
lebanon:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| 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 through checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial for violations |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
lebanon:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
lebanon:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
lebanon:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
lebanon:
Common through checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
lebanon:
Substantial for violations
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when preparing to enter |
| 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: Entering
barbados:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
lebanon:
Signal when preparing to enter
Signaling: Exiting
barbados:
Signal left when preparing to exit
lebanon:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
lebanon:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Varies; consult your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
lebanon:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
lebanon:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
lebanon:
Varies; consult your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
lebanon:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
lebanon:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; may lead to substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Fines and potential incarceration |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Possible; often paid at stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Usually within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
lebanon:
Varies; may lead to substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
lebanon:
Fines and potential incarceration
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
lebanon:
Mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
lebanon:
Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
lebanon:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
lebanon:
Possible; often paid at stations
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
lebanon:
Usually within 15-30 days