Driving in Barbados vs. Singapore: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Barbados and Singapore as we explore their key distinctions. From speed limits and road markings to pedestrian priorities, each country exhibits its own rules and regulations. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad—whether you're navigating the vibrant streets of Singapore or the scenic roads of Barbados.
Lanes
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the right 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. | Not allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
singapore:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
singapore:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
singapore:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
singapore:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Singapore |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Turns
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Display not required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
singapore:
Display not required
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| 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 |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
Flashing Lights: Usage
barbados:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
barbados:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Alcohol
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
singapore:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
singapore:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay