Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Saudi Arabia Explained
When exploring the roads of Barbados and Saudi Arabia, drivers encounter notable contrasts in regulations and practices. From lane usage—where Barbados drives on the left and Saudi Arabia on the right—to varying speed limits and alcohol tolerances, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Stay informed to navigate safely and confidently!
Lanes
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
saudi arabia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
barbados:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
saudi arabia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 993 |
| 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
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
saudi arabia:
993
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay