Driving in Afghanistan vs. Nepal: Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique aspects of road regulations and practices in Afghanistan and Nepal. While Afghanistan adopts a right-side driving approach, Nepal adheres to the left. Speed limits, signaling methods, and penalties also vary significantly, underscoring the importance of understanding these driving distinctions to ensure a safe journey in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
nepal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
afghanistan:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
afghanistan:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
afghanistan:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
nepal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
afghanistan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
afghanistan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay