Driving in Barbados vs. South Korea: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Barbados and South Korea, drivers encounter striking contrasts in regulations and practices. From varying speed limits to distinct lane usage, understanding these driving nuances is crucial for ensuring safety abroad. Familiarizing yourself with these key differences can help pave the way for a smoother journey in each country.
Lanes
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| 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 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
south korea:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
south korea:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
south korea:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| 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 but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
south korea:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| 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 but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes |
| 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
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
south korea:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay