Driving in Barbados vs. Tunisia: Key Differences Revealed
When exploring the roads of Barbados and Tunisia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey, making it vital for travelers to familiarize themselves with the local rules before hitting the road.
Lanes
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically permitted. |
| 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 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
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
barbados:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
tunisia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 197 |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
tunisia:
197
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay