Driving in Barbados vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Barbados and Norway, understanding the nuances of each country's driving regulations is crucial for safe travel. Key differences arise in lane usage, speed limits, and legal blood alcohol levels, with Barbados favoring left-side driving while Norway adheres to right-side protocols. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions can enhance your journey abroad.
Lanes
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
norway:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
norway:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
norway:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
norway:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| 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
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay