Driving in Barbados vs. Peru: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Barbados and Peru, drivers must adapt to distinct regulations and practices. Key contrasts include driving side—left in Barbados versus right in Peru—as well as speed limits, which are generally higher in Peru. Understanding these variations is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in both destinations.
Lanes
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
peru:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
peru:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
peru:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
peru:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
peru:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
peru:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
peru:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
peru:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
peru:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
peru:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
peru:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
peru:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
peru:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
peru:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
peru:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Peru |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
barbados:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
peru:
Not used in Peru
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Typically displayed on vehicle |
| 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
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
peru:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Often used more 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
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Common; checkpoints used widely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
peru:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
peru:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
peru:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
peru:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
| 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
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
peru:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
peru:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay