Driving in Bangladesh vs. Guatemala: Key Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for safe navigation. This comparison between Bangladesh and Guatemala reveals notable contrasts: while Bangladesh drives on the left, Guatemala adheres to right-side driving. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage vary significantly, emphasizing the importance of familiarizing oneself with local practices for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles generally use the edge of the road. | Shared with vehicles in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Varies by location. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bangladesh:
Left
guatemala:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Marks the right edge on some roads.
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bangladesh:
Often used to indicate a centerline; passing permitted when safe.
guatemala:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bangladesh:
Generally not allowed.
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bangladesh:
Use leftmost lane.
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
Yes, in major cities
guatemala:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
guatemala:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
Often marked with road signs.
guatemala:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bangladesh:
No
guatemala:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bangladesh:
Bicycles generally use the edge of the road.
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bangladesh:
N/A
guatemala:
Varies by location.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bangladesh:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bangladesh:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major areas | Limited use |
Urban Areas: Standard
bangladesh:
25-50 km/h
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
50-70 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
guatemala:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bangladesh:
80-100 km/h
guatemala:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bangladesh:
60-80 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bangladesh:
N/A
guatemala:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bangladesh:
Yes, in major areas
guatemala:
Limited use
Signals
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Guatemala |
| 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
guatemala:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bangladesh:
Not used in Bangladesh
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bangladesh:
Unnecessary use discouraged
guatemala:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bangladesh:
Bengali; symbols are standard
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bangladesh:
Triangular-shaped with red border
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly permitted | Varies, check local signs for permission |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bangladesh:
Not commonly permitted
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
U- Turns Allowed
bangladesh:
Varies by area; check for signs
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually, proof displayed on vehicle | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bangladesh:
Annually, proof displayed on vehicle
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bangladesh:
Displayed on windshield
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | More 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
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bangladesh:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in checkpoints | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by offense | Varies by locality; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bangladesh:
0.00%
guatemala:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bangladesh:
Common in checkpoints
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
bangladesh:
Substantial, varies by offense
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bangladesh:
Signal left when preparing to exit
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 110 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bangladesh:
9999
guatemala:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
bangladesh:
Contact local police
guatemala:
110
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bangladesh:
Not mandatory, but recommended
guatemala:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bangladesh | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can include fines and points | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable, varies by enforcement | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, varies by enforcement | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies depending on the severity of the violation | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | More common than in the USA | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred | Varies; check with local authorities |
Common Fines: Speeding
bangladesh:
Varies; can include fines and points
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
bangladesh:
Substantial fines, possible imprisonment
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bangladesh:
Fines applicable, varies by enforcement
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
bangladesh:
Fines apply, varies by enforcement
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bangladesh:
Varies depending on the severity of the violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
bangladesh:
More common than in the USA
guatemala:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
bangladesh:
Varies; typically immediate resolution preferred
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities