Driving in Barbados vs. Portugal: Key Safety Differences
When driving abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for safety. This comparison explores the distinct driving practices of Barbados and Portugal, highlighting key aspects such as lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signs. From the left-side driving in Barbados to the right-side conventions in Portugal, navigate your journey with confidence.
Lanes
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
portugal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
portugal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
portugal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
portugal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 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 |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 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 | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
portugal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Periodic inspections required; proof may be 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
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
portugal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
portugal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
portugal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| 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
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; €60 to €2,500, 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 | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Possible |
| 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
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
portugal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay