Driving in Bhutan vs. Canada: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the driving regulations of Bhutan and Canada, distinct differences emerge that are crucial for safe navigation. From the left-side driving in Bhutan to the right-side practice in Canada, as well as contrasting speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these variations ensures a secure and enjoyable experience behind the wheel in either nation.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | 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 | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | 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
bhutan:
Left
canada:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
canada:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
canada:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
canada:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
canada:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
canada:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 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 | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, but varies by province |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
canada:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
canada:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
canada:
90-110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
canada:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
Signals
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Canada |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
canada:
Not used in Canada
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by province and locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Mandatory liability insurance |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces |
Insurance
bhutan:
Liability insurance mandatory
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%, zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies by province; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Depends on province; often 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
canada:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Varies; often upwards of $200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay