Driving in the Bahamas

Traffic in the Bahamas moves on the left side of the roadway, although rental cars may come with steering wheels on the left or right side of the car.

A U.S. Driver's license is valid in the Bahamas for up to three months. It is illegal for passengers under the age of five to travel in any vehicle without the proper child passenger seat holding them in place.

Roads in Nassau and Freeport are generally adequate, but traffic congestion in those cities is rather frequent. Rural roads can be narrow and winding. Flooding occurs on roads in low-lying areas throughout the islands, including Nassau and Freeport.

The U.S. State Department rates the road conditions in the Bahamas as shown below:

Pedestrians should remember that vehicular traffic in the Bahamas comes from the right. Pedestrians have been hit by cars after failing to check properly for oncoming traffic.

Knowing these tips about driving the Bahamas will diminish the shock value that most vacationers experience when they arrive on the islands.