Driving in Barbados vs. Monaco: Key Differences to Know
When exploring the roads of Barbados and Monaco, understanding their contrasting traffic regulations and practices is vital for ensuring a secure experience. Notably, Barbados drives on the left while Monaco adheres to right-hand traffic. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage differ significantly, shaping unique driving cultures in these two picturesque destinations.
Lanes
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
monaco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
monaco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Common for traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
monaco:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
monaco:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| 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
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
monaco:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Required annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
monaco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
monaco:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
monaco:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
monaco:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
monaco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
monaco:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
monaco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon