Driving in Argentina vs. Bhutan: Key Differences Revealed
When exploring the contrasting road regulations in Argentina and Bhutan, travelers must be aware of key distinctions that shape their driving experiences. Argentina favors right-side driving with flexible overtaking rules, while Bhutan adheres to left-side navigation and stricter speed limits. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
bhutan:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
bhutan:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
bhutan:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
bhutan:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
bhutan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
bhutan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | Up to 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
bhutan:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
argentina:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Signals
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Bhutan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Restricted; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
bhutan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | 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 | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings |
| 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
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during events |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial and imprisonment possible |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
bhutan:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
bhutan:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
bhutan:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
bhutan:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; often involves fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically immediate payment required |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
bhutan:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required