Driving in Bahrain vs Bhutan: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique roadway customs between Bahrain and Bhutan, where driving conditions vary significantly. From distinct lane usage to contrasting speed limits, each nation prioritizes safety in its own way. While Bahrain allows overtaking on the left, Bhutan emphasizes right-side protocols. Understanding these nuances is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahrain:
Right
bhutan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bahrain:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
bhutan:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
bhutan:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahrain:
Use rightmost lane.
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
bhutan:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
bhutan:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
bhutan:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
bhutan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
bhutan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 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 | 100-120 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | Up to 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahrain:
50 km/h
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
bhutan:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bahrain:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
bhutan:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Bhutan |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
bhutan:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
bhutan:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
bhutan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
bhutan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Restricted; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
bhutan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn 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
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common, especially during events |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Substantial and imprisonment possible |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
bhutan:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
bhutan:
0.04%
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
bhutan:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
bhutan:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
bhutan:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; often involves fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically immediate payment required |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
bhutan:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required