Driving in Barbados vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Barbados and North Macedonia, drivers will encounter significant contrasts in traffic regulations and road usage. Notably, Barbados adheres to left-side driving, while North Macedonia favors the right. This guide will illuminate essential distinctions in speed limits, lane markings, and documentation requirements, ensuring a safer journey for travelers.
Lanes
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
north macedonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 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 | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| 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
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
barbados:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
barbados:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
barbados:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| 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 | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
north macedonia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, 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 | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay