Driving in Azerbaijan vs. Bhutan: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Azerbaijan and Bhutan, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experience behind the wheel. From differing sides of the road to unique speed limits and traffic protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Discover the essential contrasts to enhance your driving safety abroad.
Lanes
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the center on undivided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | In some cases, such as if 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 primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Often designated for buses and public transport. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
azerbaijan:
Right
bhutan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
azerbaijan:
Marks the center on undivided roads.
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
azerbaijan:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
azerbaijan:
In some cases, such as if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
bhutan:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
azerbaijan:
Use rightmost lane.
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Reserved primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles.
bhutan:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs.
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
bhutan:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes.
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
N/A
bhutan:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
bhutan:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
azerbaijan:
Often designated for buses and public transport.
bhutan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
azerbaijan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
bhutan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 110 km/h | Up to 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common practice; fines can also be mailed. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
azerbaijan:
40-60 km/h
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
azerbaijan:
20 km/h
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
azerbaijan:
Electronic signs display current limits
bhutan:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
azerbaijan:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
azerbaijan:
Common practice; fines can also be mailed.
bhutan:
Yes
Signals
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Azerbaijan | Not used in Bhutan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Azerbaijani; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
azerbaijan:
Not used in Azerbaijan
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
Traffic Signs: Language
azerbaijan:
Azerbaijani; symbols are standard
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
azerbaijan:
Triangle-shaped with red border
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Restricted; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
azerbaijan:
Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown
bhutan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
azerbaijan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
Documentation
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual technical inspection required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided upon successful inspection | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
azerbaijan:
Annual technical inspection required
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
azerbaijan:
Provided upon successful inspection
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | 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
azerbaijan:
Moderate use compared to some countries
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
azerbaijan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasional; fines and penalties apply | Common, especially during events |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial and imprisonment possible |
Limits: General Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.03%
bhutan:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.00%
bhutan:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
bhutan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
azerbaijan:
Occasional; fines and penalties apply
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
Enforcement: Fines
azerbaijan:
Can be substantial
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
Emergency Services
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 102 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or local service | 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
azerbaijan:
112
bhutan:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
azerbaijan:
102
bhutan:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
azerbaijan:
Call your insurance provider or local service
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Azerbaijan | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed | 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 | Significant fines | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Significant fines, possible license points | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically immediate payment required |
Common Fines: Speeding
azerbaijan:
Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
azerbaijan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
azerbaijan:
Significant fines
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, possible license points
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, points on license
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
azerbaijan:
Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail
bhutan:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
azerbaijan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required