Driving in Bhutan vs. Egypt: Key Differences Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving in Bhutan and Egypt, where unique traffic regulations and vehicle protocols shape road experiences. Key takeaways include Bhutan's left-side driving and stringent speed limits versus Egypt's right-side navigation and varied enforcement of traffic laws. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safe travels in both nations.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Typically used by buses and minibuses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Not consistently marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often unmarked. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Fixed speed limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
egypt:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
egypt:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
egypt:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
egypt:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
egypt:
Often unmarked.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 90-120 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Fixed speed limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are often paid immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
egypt:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
egypt:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
egypt:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
egypt:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
egypt:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
egypt:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
Signals
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Egypt |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Fines can occur for excessive misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To signal other drivers or warn of presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not officially regulated |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used in some situations due to high traffic density |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangles with a red border and white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
Horn Usage: Allowed
bhutan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
Horn Usage: Penalties
bhutan:
Fines may apply for misuse
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bhutan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bhutan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
egypt:
Not officially regulated
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bhutan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
Turns
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid driver's license required | Valid Egyptian driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Provided after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
bhutan:
Valid driver's license required
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
egypt:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
egypt:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged, fines may apply | Common in high traffic areas |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, though not always observed |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used |
| 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 | Give way and allow passage |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
bhutan:
Discouraged, fines may apply
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bhutan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
Use Of Horn: Limited
bhutan:
Only in emergency situations
egypt:
Commonly used
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Conducted frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in penalties and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
egypt:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
egypt:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
egypt:
Conducted frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
egypt:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 122 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
egypt:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
egypt:
122
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
egypt:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Significant fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes; fines are often paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically within a few weeks |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks