Driving Differences: Bhutan vs. Brunei Uncovered

When navigating the roads of Bhutan and Brunei, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experiences. Key differences include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance, with Bhutan allowing right-side overtaking while Brunei enforces zero alcohol limits. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a safe journey in each country.

bhutanbrunei

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in bhutan is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bhutan is 64

0.758 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bhutan is 0.758 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Bhutan	Brunei
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left	No	Yes
Overtaking: On Right	Yes	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

bhutan:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

brunei:

Marks the right edge on divided roads.

Overtaking: On Left

bhutan:

brunei:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

bhutan:

Yes

brunei:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.

Speeds Limits

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	Bhutan	Brunei
Urban Areas: Standard	30-50 km/h	50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20-30 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	40-60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	40-60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	40-60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	Up to 80 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	Up to 80 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	Up to 60 km/h	80-100 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	No	Yes

Urban Areas: Standard

bhutan:

30-50 km/h

brunei:

50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

bhutan:

20-30 km/h

brunei:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

brunei:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

brunei:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

brunei:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

bhutan:

Up to 80 km/h

brunei:

100 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

bhutan:

Up to 80 km/h

brunei:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

bhutan:

Up to 60 km/h

brunei:

80-100 km/h

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

bhutan:

brunei:

Yes

Signals

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	Bhutan		Brunei
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Bhutan		Not used in Brunei
Traffic Signs: Language	English; symbols are standard		Malay; English used for important signs

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

bhutan:

Not used in Bhutan

brunei:

Not used in Brunei

Traffic Signs: Language

bhutan:

English; symbols are standard

brunei:

Malay; English used for important signs

Turns

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	Bhutan		Brunei
U- Turns Allowed	Restricted; check for signs		Allowed unless prohibited by signs

U- Turns Allowed

bhutan:

Restricted; check for signs

brunei:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

Documentation

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	Bhutan	Brunei
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual vehicle inspection required	Annually required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Not used
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

bhutan:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

brunei:

Accepted with International Driving Permit

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

bhutan:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

brunei:

Accepted with International Driving Permit

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

bhutan:

Annual vehicle inspection required

brunei:

Annually required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

bhutan:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

brunei:

Not used

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

brunei:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

brunei:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Bhutan		Brunei
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings		Less frequent use compared to some countries

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

bhutan:

Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings

brunei:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Alcohol

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	Bhutan	Brunei
Limits: General Drivers	0.08%	0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.04%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during events	Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial and imprisonment possible	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

bhutan:

0.08%

brunei:

0.00%

Limits: Professional Drivers

bhutan:

0.04%

brunei:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

bhutan:

0.00%

brunei:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

bhutan:

Common, especially during events

brunei:

Common; checkpoints used in some areas

Enforcement: Fines

bhutan:

Substantial and imprisonment possible

brunei:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Bhutan		Brunei
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

bhutan:

Signal right when preparing to exit

brunei:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Bhutan	Brunei
Contact: General Emergency	113	991
Contact: Traffic Police	113	993
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with local providers or vehicle insurance	Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

bhutan:

113

brunei:

991

Contact: Traffic Police

bhutan:

113

brunei:

993

Contact: Roadside Assistance

bhutan:

Check with local providers or vehicle insurance

brunei:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

brunei:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

brunei:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Bhutan	Brunei
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; often involves fines and points on license	Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Substantial fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines enforced	B$150
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines enforced	B$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	B$250
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically immediate payment required	Varies; typically 14 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

bhutan:

Varies; often involves fines and points on license

brunei:

Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

bhutan:

Substantial fines, possible jail time

brunei:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

bhutan:

Fines enforced

brunei:

B$150

Common Fines: Phone Use

bhutan:

Fines enforced

brunei:

B$300

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

bhutan:

Fines and points on license

brunei:

B$250

Payment: Deadline

bhutan:

Varies; typically immediate payment required

brunei:

Varies; typically 14 days to pay