Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Venezuela Explained
When exploring the roads of Barbados and Venezuela, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving on opposite sides—left in Barbados and right in Venezuela—as well as varying speed limits and overtaking rules. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate confidently and securely through these vibrant destinations.
Lanes
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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 | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
venezuela:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 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
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | 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
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| 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 | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
venezuela:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 171 |
| 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 |
Contact: General Emergency
barbados:
211 or 911
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay