Driving in Bangladesh vs Canada: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Bangladesh and Canada, drivers encounter distinct rules and practices that shape their experiences. Key contrasts include lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signal regulations. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey, whether you’re cruising through Dhaka or traversing the highways of Ontario.
Lanes
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on some roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe. | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed. | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in major cities | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with road signs. | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles generally use the edge of the road. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bangladesh:
Left
canada:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Marks the right edge on some roads.
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe.
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bangladesh:
Generally not allowed.
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bangladesh:
Use leftmost lane.
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
Yes, in major cities
canada:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
Often marked with road signs.
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
No
canada:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Bicycles generally use the edge of the road.
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
N/A
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
No
canada:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bangladesh:
N/A
canada:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bangladesh:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bangladesh:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major areas | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes, but varies by province |
Urban Areas: Standard
bangladesh:
25-50 km/h
canada:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bangladesh:
30 km/h
canada:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
50-70 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
canada:
90-110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bangladesh:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bangladesh:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bangladesh:
Yes, in major areas
canada:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bangladesh:
Yes, common practice
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
Signals
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bangladesh | Not used in Canada |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bengali; symbols are standard | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bangladesh:
Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles
canada:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bangladesh:
Not used in Bangladesh
canada:
Not used in Canada
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bangladesh:
Unnecessary use discouraged
canada:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bangladesh:
Bengali; symbols are standard
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bangladesh:
Triangular-shaped with red border
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly permitted | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area; check for signs | Varies by province and locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bangladesh:
Not commonly permitted
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
U- Turns Allowed
bangladesh:
Varies by area; check for signs
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Mandatory liability insurance |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually, proof displayed on vehicle | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bangladesh:
International Driving Permit recommended
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bangladesh:
International Driving Permit recommended
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
bangladesh:
Liability insurance mandatory
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bangladesh:
Annually, proof displayed on vehicle
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bangladesh:
Displayed on windshield
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bangladesh:
Frequent use compared to some countries
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bangladesh:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%, zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in checkpoints | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by offense | Varies by province; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
canada:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
canada:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bangladesh:
Common in checkpoints
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
bangladesh:
Substantial, varies by offense
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bangladesh:
Signal left when preparing to exit
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | Depends on province; often 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or CAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bangladesh:
9999
canada:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bangladesh:
Contact local police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bangladesh:
Check with your insurance provider
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bangladesh | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can include fines and points | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable, varies by enforcement | Varies; often upwards of $200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, varies by enforcement | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies depending on the severity of the violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | More common than in the USA | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bangladesh:
Varies; can include fines and points
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
bangladesh:
Substantial fines, possible imprisonment
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bangladesh:
Fines applicable, varies by enforcement
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
Common Fines: Phone Use
bangladesh:
Fines apply, varies by enforcement
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bangladesh:
Varies depending on the severity of the violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bangladesh:
More common than in the USA
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
bangladesh:
Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay