Trinidad & Tobago Road Rules: Speed Limits, Roundabouts & Drink-Driving

Trinidad & Tobago Road Rules: Speed Limits, Roundabouts & Drink-Driving

Trinidad & Tobago has no free official Road Code booklet to download, so many drivers learn the rules second-hand and pick up myths along the way. This guide sets the record straight using the actual law: the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chap. 48:50. It covers driving on the left, roundabouts, the real speed limits, and the drink-drive limit, so you can prepare for the computerised regulations exam with confidence. Ready to test what you know? Try the free Trinidad & Tobago practice test once you have read through.

Key takeaways

• Trinidad & Tobago drives on the left; keep left, overtake on the right only when safe (Reg. 105).
• At a roundabout, all vehicles proceed clockwise (Reg. 106).
• Private car speed limits: 80 km/h outside a built-up area, 50 km/h within one, unless a sign says otherwise.
• The myth that "every road is 50 km/h" is wrong; that limit applies inside built-up areas.
• Drink-drive limit is 0.08% (35 µg breath / 80 mg blood); there is no separate learner sub-limit.

Which side of the road do you drive on?

Trinidad & Tobago drives on the left, and vehicles are right-hand drive. Regulation 105 of the Act requires all vehicles to keep to the left and stay on the left side of the carriageway "except when overtaking." So you hold the left as your normal lane, and only move out to pass another vehicle.

When you do overtake, you pass on the right, the side nearest the centre of the road. Do it only when the road ahead is clear, your view is long enough, and no sign or marking forbids it. Never overtake approaching a junction, a bend, or the crest of a hill. If in doubt, hold back and wait for a safe, straight stretch.

Which way do you go around a roundabout?

At a roundabout in Trinidad & Tobago you proceed clockwise. Regulation 106 states plainly that where a roundabout is signed, "all vehicles will proceed in a clockwise direction only." This matches driving on the left: you enter to the left and circulate to the right of the central island.

Give way to traffic already on the roundabout before you enter, and watch for the gap. Signal left as you approach your exit, and check your mirrors and blind spot before you leave. Roundabouts keep traffic flowing, but only if everyone yields at the right moment. For the signs that guide you into and out of them, see our Trinidad & Tobago road signs reference.

What is the speed limit in Trinidad and Tobago?

For an ordinary private car, the Second Schedule of the Act sets 80 km/h outside a built-up area and 50 km/h within a built-up area. Heavy vehicles, buses, and any vehicle towing a trailer are limited to 65 km/h on the open road and 50 km/h in built-up areas. These are the default limits where no special sign is posted.

A "built-up area" is defined in section 62(8) as the City of Port-of-Spain, the City of San Fernando, the Borough of Arima, plus any area declared by Order. Inside those zones, 50 km/h is the rule for cars. Particular roads and bridges can carry their own special limits set by Order, and those are shown on posted signs. Where a sign shows a number, that number governs; where none is posted, the Schedule limit applies.

Is every road in Trinidad limited to 50 km/h?

No. This is one of the most repeated myths about driving in Trinidad & Tobago, and it is simply not what the law says. A private car may legally travel up to 80 km/h outside a built-up area unless a posted sign shows a lower limit. The 50 km/h figure applies within built-up areas: Port-of-Spain, San Fernando, Arima, and other zones declared by Order.

The confusion often comes from spending most of your driving inside those named towns, where 50 km/h really does apply, and assuming it covers everywhere. It does not. There is also no single national "highway" number in the Act. On roads and bridges with a special limit, a sign tells you the figure; everywhere else the Second Schedule sets it. When you see a posted number, follow it. When you do not, fall back on 80 km/h for a car on the open road, or 65 km/h for heavier vehicles.

What is the drink-drive limit in Trinidad and Tobago?

The prescribed limit is 0.08%: 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, or 80 milligrammes per 100 ml of blood. This comes from sections 70A and 70G of the Act. Driving, attempting to drive, or being in charge of a vehicle above that limit is an offence, and police can test your breath at the roadside.

The Act sets a single limit for all drivers. There is no separate lower sub-limit for learners or new drivers in Trinidad & Tobago, unlike some other countries. That said, the safest and simplest approach is not to drink at all before you drive. Alcohol slows your reactions and clouds your judgement well before you reach the legal threshold, so the only reliable number to aim for is zero.

Seatbelts and safe-driving basics

Wearing a seatbelt is basic protection and standard good practice for every occupant of a car, driver and passengers alike. Buckle up before you move off, on every trip, however short. A belt only works when it is worn, and a short drive across town is where a surprising number of collisions happen.

• Keep a safe following distance: leave at least a two-second gap in good conditions, and more in rain.
• Anticipate hazards: read the road ahead, and remember a ball rolling out may mean a child is next.
• Mirror, signal, manoeuvre: check, indicate early, then move, before every turn or lane change.
• Give way to emergency vehicles: pull over safely and let them pass when you can.
• Avoid distractions: put the phone away and keep both hands and full attention on driving.

These habits are universal, and they carry over to every question in the regulations exam. For the full licensing picture, read our guide on how to get a driver's permit in Trinidad & Tobago, and if you are visiting, see driving in Trinidad on a foreign licence or IDP. To match rules to symbols, our Trinidad & Tobago road signs guide walks through the common signs, and breaking these rules can add points under the Trinidad & Tobago demerit points system.

Official sources

• Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chap. 48:50 (driving side, roundabouts, speed limits, drink-driving)
• Ministry of Works and Transport — Driving Permits (Transport Division)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the speed limit in Trinidad and Tobago?

For a private car, it is 80 km/h outside a built-up area and 50 km/h within one, unless a posted sign shows otherwise. Heavy vehicles, buses, and vehicles towing trailers are limited to 65 km/h on the open road.

Is every road in Trinidad limited to 50 km/h?

No. That is a common myth. The 50 km/h limit applies inside built-up areas like Port-of-Spain, San Fernando, and Arima. A private car may do up to 80 km/h outside a built-up area unless a sign shows a lower figure.

What is the drink-drive limit in Trinidad and Tobago?

The limit is 0.08%: 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, or 80 milligrammes per 100 ml of blood (sections 70A and 70G). The same limit applies to all drivers; there is no separate learner sub-limit.

Which way do you go around a roundabout in Trinidad and Tobago?

Clockwise. Regulation 106 requires all vehicles to proceed in a clockwise direction at any signed roundabout, which fits driving on the left. Give way to traffic already circulating before you enter.

Which side of the road does Trinidad and Tobago drive on?

Trinidad & Tobago drives on the left, with right-hand-drive vehicles. Keep to the left under Regulation 105, and overtake on the right only when the road ahead is clear and it is safe to do so.

Is there an official Road Code to download?

There is no free official Road Code booklet online. The authoritative rules live in the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chap. 48:50. The Licensing Division also sells a paid Regulations Study Guide, and you can practise free on our Trinidad & Tobago practice test.