Driving in Bhutan vs. Colombia: Key Differences Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the unique traffic regulations is essential for a safe journey. This comparison highlights notable distinctions between Bhutan and Colombia, including the driving side, speed limits, and lane usage. By familiarizing yourself with these driving practices, you can navigate each country's roads with confidence and security.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
colombia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
colombia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
colombia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
colombia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
colombia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
colombia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
colombia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
colombia:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
colombia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
colombia:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
colombia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
colombia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
colombia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
Signals
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Colombia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| 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; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
colombia:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
colombia:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 123 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 123 or local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
colombia:
123
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
colombia:
123 or local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
colombia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $100 to $300, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations |
| 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
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay