Driving in Israel vs. Jamaica: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of Israel and Jamaica, understanding the distinctions in traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key contrasts include driving on the right in Israel versus the left in Jamaica, as well as variations in speed limits and lane usage. Familiarizing yourself with these differences can significantly enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Israel | 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 | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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: Requirements | N/A | 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
israel:
Right
jamaica:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
jamaica:
Marks the center of the road on two-way streets.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
israel:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
jamaica:
Marks the centerline; passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Left
israel:
Yes
jamaica:
No
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
jamaica:
Yes, when safe and oncoming traffic is clear
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
israel:
Railroad crossings
jamaica:
Bridge crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
jamaica:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
jamaica:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
jamaica:
Primarily for buses in certain urban areas
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
jamaica:
Marked with signs indicating bus lane
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
jamaica:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
jamaica:
Shared with the road, cyclists must keep to the left
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
jamaica:
Occasional with bicycle symbols
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
jamaica:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
jamaica:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
jamaica:
Fixed speed limits via signs or road markings
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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: Standard
israel:
50 km/h
jamaica:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
jamaica:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
jamaica:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
jamaica:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
jamaica:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
jamaica:
Fixed speed limits via signs
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
jamaica:
Common for immediate traffic violations
Signals
| Israel | 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 | Used before green light. | 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 prohibited; local ordinances 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 | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Often triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
israel:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
jamaica:
Proceed with caution; confirm no vehicles are crossing
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
jamaica:
Not used in Jamaica
Horn Usage: Allowed
israel:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jamaica:
Typically allowed in situations to avert danger
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
jamaica:
Discouraged near hospitals and schools
Horn Usage: Penalties
israel:
Fines may apply for misuse
jamaica:
Rarely enforced
Headlight Flash: Usage
israel:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
jamaica:
To signal intentions, often a warning
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
israel:
Not to be used to signal other messages
jamaica:
Not widely restricted
Hand Signals: Permitted
israel:
Yes, if vehicle signals are malfunctioning
jamaica:
Yes, especially if indicator lights fail
Hand Signals: Common Usage
israel:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
jamaica:
More common in older or malfunctioning vehicles
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
jamaica:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
jamaica:
Often triangular with red borders
Turns
| Israel | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | 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; check for signs | Allowed unless signs prohibit it |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
jamaica:
Prohibited
Left Turn: General
israel:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
jamaica:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Left Turn: At Intersections
israel:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
jamaica:
Yield to oncoming traffic
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
jamaica:
Allowed unless signs prohibit it
Documentation
| Israel | 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 | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Annual inspection required; proof via certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not consistently used |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jamaica:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jamaica:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
jamaica:
Annual inspection required; proof via certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
jamaica:
Not consistently used
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
jamaica:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
jamaica:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Israel | 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 | Moderate 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
israel:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
jamaica:
To signal intentions or warnings
Flashing Lights: Misuse
israel:
Discouraged, fines may apply
jamaica:
Informally regulated
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
israel:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
jamaica:
Common practice
Lane Courtesy: Blocking
israel:
Discouraged and may be penalized
jamaica:
Discouraged
Use Of Horn: Limited
israel:
Only in emergency situations
jamaica:
Encouraged only to avert danger
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
jamaica:
Moderate use; more common than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
israel:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
jamaica:
Pedestrians have right of way at crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
jamaica:
Pull over and stop if safe
Emergency Vehicles: Awareness
israel:
Listen for sirens and watch for flashing lights
jamaica:
Sirens and flashing lights
Alcohol
| Israel | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 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 regularly | Occasionally conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | 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
israel:
0.05%
jamaica:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
jamaica:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
jamaica:
Zero tolerance; underage drinking and driving prohibited
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
israel:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
jamaica:
Zero tolerance for driving under drug influence
Zero Tolerance: Medications
israel:
Check if medication affects driving ability
jamaica:
Check for impairment warnings
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
jamaica:
Occasionally conducted
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
jamaica:
Varies with severity and past offenses
Enforcement: Imprisonment
israel:
Possible for severe offenses
jamaica:
Possible for severe breaches
Test Refusal
israel:
Can result in license suspension
jamaica:
Can result in fines and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Israel | 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
israel:
Yield to traffic already in the roundabout
jamaica:
Yield to the right; vehicles in the roundabout have priority
Priority: Inside
israel:
Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly
jamaica:
Keep to the left; do not change lanes abruptly
Signaling: Entering
israel:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
jamaica:
Signal if taking an immediate exit
Signaling: Exiting
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
jamaica:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
israel:
Use for first exit or straight
jamaica:
Use for immediate or second exit
Lane Usage: Left
israel:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
jamaica:
Use for other exits
Emergency Services
| Israel | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 119 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 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
israel:
100
jamaica:
119 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
jamaica:
119
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
jamaica:
Depends on provider; often through insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
jamaica:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Jamaica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; penalties increase with speed over limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties; includes fines and possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Subject to fines and points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Possible for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | 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
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
jamaica:
Varies; penalties increase with speed over limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
jamaica:
Severe penalties; includes fines and possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
jamaica:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
jamaica:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
jamaica:
Subject to fines and points
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
jamaica:
Possible for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
jamaica:
Enforced strictly; usually within 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Fines
israel:
Same as residents; must be paid
jamaica:
Must be paid promptly to avoid complications
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
israel:
Possible if fines are not paid
jamaica:
Possible for unresolved fines