Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Mexico Explained
When exploring the unique driving landscapes of Barbados and Mexico, numerous distinctions emerge that impact road safety. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and traffic regulations, understanding these contrasts is crucial for a secure journey. Whether navigating Barbados' left-side roads or Mexico's vibrant streets, awareness of these variations ensures safe travels abroad.
Lanes
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the left 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 | 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
mexico:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
mexico:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
mexico:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
mexico:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
mexico:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
mexico:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-80 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, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
mexico:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Moderate 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
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
mexico:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
mexico:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
mexico:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
mexico:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
mexico:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments