Driving in Bhutan vs. Costa Rica: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the unique road regulations of Bhutan and Costa Rica, distinct contrasts emerge that are crucial for safe navigation. Bhutan adheres to left-side driving, while Costa Rica follows right-side norms. Additionally, speed limits and overtaking rules vary significantly, underscoring the importance of understanding these variations for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | N/A | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
costa rica:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
costa rica:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
costa rica:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
costa rica:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
costa rica:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
costa rica:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
costa rica:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
Signals
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Costa Rica |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
Documentation
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof 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 | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
costa rica:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
costa rica:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use is common to signal intentions |
| 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
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints are used throughout |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
costa rica:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
costa rica:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 911 or direct number depending on location |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
costa rica:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
costa rica:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
costa rica:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines applicable for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; police may issue fines on the spot |
| 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
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay