Driving in Trinidad and Tobago vs. United Arab Emirates
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices between Trinidad and Tobago and the United Arab Emirates. While Trinidadians navigate on the left side, UAE drivers follow right-side rules. This comparison highlights essential distinctions in speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol restrictions, ensuring a safer journey for international travelers.
Lanes
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, when safe and permitted. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Marked with signs. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Driving Side
trinidad and tobago:
Left
united arab emirates:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
trinidad and tobago:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Left
trinidad and tobago:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
trinidad and tobago:
Yes, when safe and permitted.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
trinidad and tobago:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
trinidad and tobago:
Use leftmost lane.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
trinidad and tobago:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
trinidad and tobago:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
trinidad and tobago:
Marked with signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
trinidad and tobago:
Limited
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
trinidad and tobago:
Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles.
united arab emirates:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
trinidad and tobago:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
trinidad and tobago:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 65 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common, officers may issue fines directly | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
trinidad and tobago:
30-50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
trinidad and tobago:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
trinidad and tobago:
65 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
trinidad and tobago:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
trinidad and tobago:
Common, officers may issue fines directly
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Trinidad and Tobago | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
trinidad and tobago:
Not used in Trinidad and Tobago
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
trinidad and tobago:
Unnecessary use discouraged
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Headlight Flash: Usage
trinidad and tobago:
To warn other drivers of your presence
united arab emirates:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
trinidad and tobago:
English; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
trinidad and tobago:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
trinidad and tobago:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
trinidad and tobago:
Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Third-party insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
trinidad and tobago:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
trinidad and tobago:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
trinidad and tobago:
Third-party insurance mandatory
united arab emirates:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
trinidad and tobago:
Annual inspection required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
trinidad and tobago:
Displayed on vehicle
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
trinidad and tobago:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use to communicate in traffic | Moderate use, not excessively |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
trinidad and tobago:
To warn of hazards
united arab emirates:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
trinidad and tobago:
Frequent use to communicate in traffic
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
trinidad and tobago:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
trinidad and tobago:
0.08%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
trinidad and tobago:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
trinidad and tobago:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
trinidad and tobago:
Common
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or use local police numbers | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
trinidad and tobago:
999 or 911
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
trinidad and tobago:
999 or use local police numbers
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
trinidad and tobago:
Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
trinidad and tobago:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Trinidad and tobago | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | TT$ 1,000 | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | TT$ 1,500 | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | TT$ 2,000, points on license | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,000
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,500
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 2,000, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
trinidad and tobago:
Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; typically within 15-30 days
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay