Driving Differences: Barbados vs Oman Explained
When exploring the roads of Barbados and Oman, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. Key contrasts include driving sides—left in Barbados versus right in Oman—and speed limits, with Oman allowing faster speeds. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in each unique driving environment.
Lanes
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
oman:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
oman:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
oman:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
oman:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
oman:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
oman:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
oman:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
oman:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
oman:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
oman:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
oman:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
oman:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Oman |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
oman:
Not used in Oman
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
oman:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Regular inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
oman:
Regular inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
oman:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
oman:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Use more frequent 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
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| 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 | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
oman:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
oman:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
oman:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
oman:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
oman:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 9999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 9999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| 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
oman:
9999
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
oman:
9999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; ensure timely payment |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
oman:
Fines can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
oman:
Common
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment