Driving in Georgia vs. Jamaica: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Georgia and Jamaica, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experience. Key variations include the driving sides—right in Georgia and left in Jamaica—as well as differing speed limits and overtaking rules. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the center of the road on two-way streets. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Marks the centerline; passing permitted with caution. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, when safe and oncoming traffic is clear |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Bridge crossings |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Primarily for buses in certain urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Marked with signs indicating bus lane |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with the road, cyclists must keep to the left |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Occasional with bicycle symbols |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Fixed speed limits via signs or road markings |
Driving Side
georgia:
Right
jamaica:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
jamaica:
Marks the center of the road on two-way streets.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
georgia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
jamaica:
Marks the centerline; passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Left
georgia:
Yes
jamaica:
No
Overtaking: On Right
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
jamaica:
Yes, when safe and oncoming traffic is clear
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
georgia:
Railroad crossings
jamaica:
Bridge crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
jamaica:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
jamaica:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
jamaica:
Primarily for buses in certain urban areas
Bus Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
jamaica:
Marked with signs indicating bus lane
Cycle Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
jamaica:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
jamaica:
Shared with the road, cyclists must keep to the left
Cycle Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
jamaica:
Occasional with bicycle symbols
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
jamaica:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
jamaica:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
jamaica:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
jamaica:
Fixed speed limits via signs or road markings
Speeds Limits
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Fixed speed limits via signs |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common for immediate traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
georgia:
20-40 km/h
jamaica:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
80-100 km/h
jamaica:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
georgia:
80-100 km/h
jamaica:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
80 km/h
jamaica:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
110-120 km/h
jamaica:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
georgia:
100-110 km/h
jamaica:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
90-100 km/h
jamaica:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
jamaica:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
jamaica:
Fixed speed limits via signs
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
georgia:
Yes
jamaica:
Common for immediate traffic violations
Signals
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution; confirm no vehicles are crossing |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Jamaica |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Typically allowed in situations to avert danger |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged near hospitals and schools |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Rarely enforced |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To signal intentions, often a warning |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not widely restricted |
| Hand Signals: Permitted | Yes, if vehicle signals are malfunctioning | Yes, especially if indicator lights fail |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common in older or malfunctioning vehicles |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Georgian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Often triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
georgia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
jamaica:
Proceed with caution; confirm no vehicles are crossing
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
georgia:
Not used
jamaica:
Not used in Jamaica
Horn Usage: Allowed
georgia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jamaica:
Typically allowed in situations to avert danger
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
georgia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
jamaica:
Discouraged near hospitals and schools
Horn Usage: Penalties
georgia:
Fines may apply for misuse
jamaica:
Rarely enforced
Headlight Flash: Usage
georgia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
jamaica:
To signal intentions, often a warning
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
georgia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
jamaica:
Not widely restricted
Hand Signals: Permitted
georgia:
Yes, if vehicle signals are malfunctioning
jamaica:
Yes, especially if indicator lights fail
Hand Signals: Common Usage
georgia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
jamaica:
More common in older or malfunctioning vehicles
Traffic Signs: Language
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
jamaica:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
jamaica:
Often triangular with red borders
Turns
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Yield to oncoming traffic |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless signs prohibit it |
Right Turn On Red
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
jamaica:
Prohibited
Left Turn: General
georgia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
jamaica:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Left Turn: At Intersections
georgia:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
jamaica:
Yield to oncoming traffic
U- Turns Allowed
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
jamaica:
Allowed unless signs prohibit it
Documentation
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required; proof may be required | Annual inspection required; proof via certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not consistently used |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jamaica:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jamaica:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
jamaica:
Annual inspection required; proof via certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
jamaica:
Not consistently used
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
jamaica:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To signal intentions or warnings |
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged, fines may apply | Informally regulated |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Lane Courtesy: Blocking | Discouraged and may be penalized | Discouraged |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Encouraged only to avert danger |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use; more common than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if safe |
| Emergency Vehicles: Awareness | Listen for sirens and watch for flashing lights | Sirens and flashing lights |
Flashing Lights: Usage
georgia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
jamaica:
To signal intentions or warnings
Flashing Lights: Misuse
georgia:
Discouraged, fines may apply
jamaica:
Informally regulated
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
georgia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
jamaica:
Common practice
Lane Courtesy: Blocking
georgia:
Discouraged and may be penalized
jamaica:
Discouraged
Use Of Horn: Limited
georgia:
Only in emergency situations
jamaica:
Encouraged only to avert danger
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
georgia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
jamaica:
Moderate use; more common than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
georgia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
jamaica:
Pedestrians have right of way at crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
jamaica:
Pull over and stop if safe
Emergency Vehicles: Awareness
georgia:
Listen for sirens and watch for flashing lights
jamaica:
Sirens and flashing lights
Alcohol
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance; underage drinking and driving prohibited |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs | Zero tolerance for driving under drug influence |
| Zero Tolerance: Medications | Check if medication affects driving ability | Check for impairment warnings |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Occasionally conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies with severity and past offenses |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for severe breaches |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
georgia:
0.03%
jamaica:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
jamaica:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
jamaica:
Zero tolerance; underage drinking and driving prohibited
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
georgia:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
jamaica:
Zero tolerance for driving under drug influence
Zero Tolerance: Medications
georgia:
Check if medication affects driving ability
jamaica:
Check for impairment warnings
Enforcement: Random Checks
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
jamaica:
Occasionally conducted
Enforcement: Fines
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
jamaica:
Varies with severity and past offenses
Enforcement: Imprisonment
georgia:
Possible for severe offenses
jamaica:
Possible for severe breaches
Test Refusal
georgia:
Can result in license suspension
jamaica:
Can result in fines and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Priority: Entering | Yield to traffic already in the roundabout | Yield to the right; vehicles in the roundabout have priority |
| Priority: Inside | Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly | Keep to the left; do not change lanes abruptly |
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if taking an immediate exit |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for immediate or second exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for other exits |
Priority: Entering
georgia:
Yield to traffic already in the roundabout
jamaica:
Yield to the right; vehicles in the roundabout have priority
Priority: Inside
georgia:
Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly
jamaica:
Keep to the left; do not change lanes abruptly
Signaling: Entering
georgia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
jamaica:
Signal if taking an immediate exit
Signaling: Exiting
georgia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
jamaica:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
georgia:
Use for first exit or straight
jamaica:
Use for immediate or second exit
Lane Usage: Left
georgia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
jamaica:
Use for other exits
Emergency Services
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Depends on provider; often through insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
georgia:
112
jamaica:
119 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
georgia:
112
jamaica:
119
Contact: Roadside Assistance
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
jamaica:
Depends on provider; often through insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
jamaica:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Georgia | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL | Varies; penalties increase with speed over limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties; includes fines and possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 GEL | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 10 GEL | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 200 GEL | Subject to fines and points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; but usually paid later | Possible for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Enforced strictly; usually within 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Fines | Same as residents; must be paid | Must be paid promptly to avoid complications |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible for unresolved fines |
Common Fines: Speeding
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
jamaica:
Varies; penalties increase with speed over limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
georgia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
jamaica:
Severe penalties; includes fines and possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
georgia:
50 GEL
jamaica:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
georgia:
10 GEL
jamaica:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
georgia:
200 GEL
jamaica:
Subject to fines and points
Payment: On The Spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
jamaica:
Possible for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days
jamaica:
Enforced strictly; usually within 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Fines
georgia:
Same as residents; must be paid
jamaica:
Must be paid promptly to avoid complications
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
georgia:
Possible if fines are not paid
jamaica:
Possible for unresolved fines