Driving in Barbados vs Madagascar: Key Differences Revealed
Discover the fascinating contrasts in roadway regulations between Barbados and Madagascar. While Barbados mandates left-side driving and has strict speed limits, Madagascar favors right-side navigation with more lenient overtaking rules. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Typically not used. |
| 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. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
madagascar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
madagascar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
madagascar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
barbados:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
barbados:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
barbados:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
barbados:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
barbados:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
barbados:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
barbados:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
barbados:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
barbados:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Recommended to 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
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
barbados:
Signal left when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
madagascar:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority