Driving Differences: Bangladesh vs El Salvador Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Bangladesh and El Salvador, distinct contrasts emerge that are vital for travelers. Key differences include driving orientation—left in Bangladesh versus right in El Salvador—and varied speed limits in urban areas. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring safe and responsible navigation in either country.
Lanes
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on some roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead 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 and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| 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 colored pavement. |
Driving Side
bangladesh:
Left
el salvador:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Marks the right edge on some roads.
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe.
el salvador:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bangladesh:
Generally not allowed.
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bangladesh:
Use leftmost lane.
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
Yes, in major cities
el salvador:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
Often marked with road signs.
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Bicycles generally use the edge of the road.
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
N/A
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major areas | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bangladesh:
25-50 km/h
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bangladesh:
30 km/h
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
50-70 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bangladesh:
Yes, in major areas
el salvador:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bangladesh:
Yes, common practice
el salvador:
Yes
Signals
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 common in El Salvador |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bengali; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bangladesh:
Proceed with caution, yield to other vehicles
el salvador:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bangladesh:
Not used in Bangladesh
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bangladesh:
Signal when exiting
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bangladesh:
Unnecessary use discouraged
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bangladesh:
Bengali; symbols are standard
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bangladesh:
Triangular-shaped with red border
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly permitted | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bangladesh:
Not commonly permitted
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bangladesh:
Varies by area; check for signs
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually, proof displayed on vehicle | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bangladesh:
Annually, proof displayed on vehicle
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bangladesh:
Displayed on windshield
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in some areas to communicate |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Yield and make way |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bangladesh:
Frequent use compared to some countries
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bangladesh:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
el salvador:
Yield and make way
Alcohol
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in checkpoints | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by offense | Substantial fines and penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
el salvador:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
el salvador:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bangladesh:
Common in checkpoints
el salvador:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bangladesh:
Substantial, varies by offense
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
Roundabouts
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bangladesh:
Signal left when preparing to exit
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 120 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 121 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bangladesh:
9999
el salvador:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bangladesh:
Contact local police
el salvador:
120
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bangladesh:
Check with your insurance provider
el salvador:
121
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bangladesh | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can include fines and points | Varies; $20 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable, varies by enforcement | $20 to $50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, varies by enforcement | $30 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies depending on the severity of the violation | $50 to $200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | More common than in the USA | Yes, frequently enforced |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bangladesh:
Varies; can include fines and points
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
Common Fines: Alcohol
bangladesh:
Substantial fines, possible imprisonment
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bangladesh:
Fines applicable, varies by enforcement
el salvador:
$20 to $50
Common Fines: Phone Use
bangladesh:
Fines apply, varies by enforcement
el salvador:
$30 to $100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bangladesh:
Varies depending on the severity of the violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
Payment: On The Spot
bangladesh:
More common than in the USA
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
Payment: Deadline
bangladesh:
Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay