Driving in Argentina vs. India: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Argentina and India, understanding the contrasts in traffic regulations and driving customs is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions arise in lane usage, speed limits, and pedestrian rights. While Argentina drives on the right and permits overtaking on the left, India adheres to a left-hand drive with unique rules, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
Lanes
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
india:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
argentina:
Yes
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in India |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
argentina:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
argentina:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
argentina:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
argentina:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
argentina:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
argentina:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
argentina:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
india:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay