Driving in Barbados vs. Switzerland: Key Differences
When venturing into new territories, understanding the nuances of vehicular regulations is crucial. This comparison between Barbados and Switzerland unveils significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides of the road and varying speed limits. By familiarizing yourself with these distinctions, you can enhance your safety and confidence while navigating foreign streets.
Lanes
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
switzerland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
switzerland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 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 | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
switzerland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
barbados:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| 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 | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
switzerland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
| 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: Entering
barbados:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Signaling: Exiting
barbados:
Signal left when preparing to exit
switzerland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
barbados:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
switzerland:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay