Driving in Barbados vs. Libya: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the distinct driving customs of Barbados and Libya, travelers must be aware of several key contrasts. Barbados adheres to left-side driving, while Libya opts for the right. Speed limits, traffic signals, and road etiquette also diverge significantly, emphasizing the importance of understanding local regulations to ensure road safety and a smooth journey abroad.
Lanes
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the separation between directions on some roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Not commonly designated. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Not commonly designated. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Generally not used. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
libya:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
libya:
Marks the separation between directions on some roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
libya:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
libya:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
libya:
Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
libya:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
libya:
Not commonly designated.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
libya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
libya:
Not commonly designated.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
libya:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
libya:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
libya:
Generally not used.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Generally not used. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
libya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
libya:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
libya:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
libya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
libya:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
libya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
libya:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
libya:
Generally not used.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
libya:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Libya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
barbados:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
libya:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
libya:
Not used in Libya
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
libya:
Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
libya:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Generally not allowed unless specified |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
libya:
Generally not allowed unless specified
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
libya:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Required for registration and periodically thereafter |
| 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: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
libya:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
libya:
Required for registration and periodically thereafter
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
libya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
libya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
libya:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| 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 | Possible; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
libya:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
libya:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
libya:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
libya:
Possible; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
libya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
libya:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
libya:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 193 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | Varies by area |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| 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
libya:
193
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
libya:
Varies by area
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
libya:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
libya:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
libya:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; fines based on severity |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines may apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically required within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
libya:
Varies; fines based on severity
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
libya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
libya:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
libya:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
libya:
Fines may apply
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
libya:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
libya:
Varies; typically required within 30 days