Driving Differences: Algeria vs. Bhutan Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Algeria and Bhutan reveals striking contrasts: from their driving orientations—right in Algeria versus left in Bhutan—to varying speed limits and unique traffic customs. Gaining insight into these distinctions ensures safer and more enjoyable travels in both nations.
Lanes
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except on one-way roads. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Not applicable | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not applicable | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Not applicable | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Not applicable | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
algeria:
Right
bhutan:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
algeria:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
algeria:
Prohibited except on one-way roads.
bhutan:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
algeria:
Use rightmost lane.
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
algeria:
Not applicable
bhutan:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
algeria:
Not applicable
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
algeria:
Not applicable
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
algeria:
Not applicable
bhutan:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
algeria:
Not applicable
bhutan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
algeria:
Not applicable
bhutan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | Up to 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
Urban Areas: Standard
algeria:
50 km/h
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
algeria:
50 km/h
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
algeria:
100 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
algeria:
90 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
algeria:
80 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
algeria:
120 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
algeria:
100 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
algeria:
90 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
algeria:
Not applicable
bhutan:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
algeria:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Signals
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not used in Bhutan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Usually triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
algeria:
Not typically used
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
algeria:
Excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
algeria:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
algeria:
Usually triangular with red borders
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign | Restricted; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
algeria:
Usually not allowed unless indicated
bhutan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
algeria:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by sign
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
Documentation
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
algeria:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
algeria:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
algeria:
Mandatory every few years, varies based on vehicle age
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
algeria:
Displayed on windshield
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
algeria:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
algeria:
Recommended
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
algeria:
More frequent use than in some countries
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
Pedestrians Priority
algeria:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crosswalks
bhutan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
algeria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Checkpoints used especially on holidays | Common, especially during events |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial and imprisonment possible |
Limits: General Drivers
algeria:
0.02%
bhutan:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
algeria:
0.00%
bhutan:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
algeria:
0.00%; zero tolerance
bhutan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
algeria:
Checkpoints used especially on holidays
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
Enforcement: Fines
algeria:
Varies; can be substantial
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
Emergency Services
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 1548 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or auto club | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
algeria:
1548
bhutan:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
algeria:
17
bhutan:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
algeria:
Contact insurance provider or auto club
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
algeria:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
algeria:
Recommended
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Algeria | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars | Varies; often involves fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Heavy fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed for non-compliance | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed for non-compliance | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines imposed, may include points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; also through post or bank | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid promptly | Varies; typically immediate payment required |
Common Fines: Speeding
algeria:
Varies; can reach up to several thousand dinars
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
algeria:
Heavy fines, possible jail time
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
algeria:
Fines imposed for non-compliance
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
algeria:
Fines imposed for non-compliance
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
algeria:
Fines imposed, may include points on license
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
algeria:
Possible; also through post or bank
bhutan:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
algeria:
Varies; typically must be paid promptly
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required