Driving in Bhutan vs. Bolivia: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the driving experiences of Bhutan and Bolivia, distinct contrasts emerge that every traveler should recognize. From lane usage—where Bhutan drives on the left and Bolivia on the right—to differing speed limits and alcohol regulations, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe navigation in foreign territories. Discover how these unique rules shape roadway behavior in each country.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
bolivia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
bolivia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
bolivia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | No, not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
bolivia:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
bolivia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
Signals
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Bolivia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Only to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
Horn Usage: Allowed
bhutan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
bolivia:
Spanish
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints often used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies, can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
bolivia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
bolivia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
bolivia:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
bolivia:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
bolivia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; may result in points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines may apply, varies by location |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
bolivia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
bolivia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly