5.1 Keeping Left, Being Overtaken and Overtaking

Barbados drives on the left, and most of the island's rules of road position follow from that. They are set out in regulation 31 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 1984, which applies to every driver of a motor vehicle, with or without a trailer.

Keeping left (reg. 31(5)(a))

The driver must "at all times, keep the motor vehicle on the left of the road unless prevented by some sufficient cause or directed to do so by traffic signs." In practice:

• On a two-way road, drive in the left-hand half, at a safe distance from the edge. Many rural roads have no sidewalk, so watch for pedestrians walking towards you on the right-hand edge and for people at the left edge.
• On roads with two or more lanes in your direction, use the left lane unless you are overtaking or getting into position to turn right.
• Slow-moving traffic must keep as near to the left as possible at all times, and unladen vehicles must give way to laden ones (reg. 36).

Being overtaken (reg. 31(5)(c))

When another vehicle is overtaking you, you must, unless signs say otherwise:

• drive as close to the left side of the road as possible to let it pass;
• in every case drive so as to leave as much space as possible for passing traffic; and
• not "speed abreast" of a vehicle that is overtaking you. Racing an overtaking driver traps them on the wrong side of the road.

If someone wants to overtake you on a narrow road, ease off and drop back so they can get past and return to the left safely.

Overtaking: where and how (reg. 31(5)(b) and 31(6))

Overtake on the right. When overtaking, keep to the right (off side) of the other vehicle, except where traffic signs indicate otherwise.

Only overtake when you can see that it is safe. You must not overtake unless you have "a clear and unobstructed view of the road," and you must make sure the road ahead is clear for enough distance to overtake and return to your proper side before meeting oncoming traffic.

Never overtake (unless signs indicate otherwise):

1. while going round a corner;
2. where roads intersect or fork;
3. where the road passes over the brow of a hill or a humpbacked bridge; or
4. anywhere you cannot see far enough ahead to overtake safely.

Add the places where markings or signs forbid it: an unbroken line on your side (see 4.1), a no-overtaking sign (see 2.3), the approach to a pedestrian crossing, and road works. "Overtaking improperly" is in the 4-point demerit group.

A safe overtaking routine

Give cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders and pedestrians at least as much room as you would give a car, and more in wind or on hills. They can wobble or swerve round potholes. Drivers of animal-drawn vehicles and riders also follow these rules: keep left and pass same-direction traffic on its right, and do not overtake at or near a corner (reg. 128).

Meeting oncoming traffic on narrow roads

Many parish roads are too narrow for two vehicles to pass at speed. Slow down early, keep well to the left and be prepared to stop. If a parked vehicle or other obstruction is on your side, give way to oncoming traffic before you pull out round it. Where the road is too narrow for both vehicles, the driver nearer to a wider place should pull in or reverse a short distance to it, slowly and with full observation.

Reversing (reg. 31(2))

You must not drive backwards for a greater distance or time than is needed for safety or reasonable convenience, and you must never reverse at the junction of roads or round a corner. Before reversing, check all around. Seat belts are not compulsory while you are actually reversing (s.36E(3) of the Act), but you must still keep full control.

Control and view (reg. 31(2)(c) and 31(4))

While driving, you must not be in a position, or let anyone else be in a position, that stops you having proper control of the vehicle or a full view of the road and traffic ahead. In a right-hand-drive vehicle, no one may sit on the right-hand side of the driver. Goods and public service vehicles may carry only one person beside the driver unless certified for more.