Driving in Bhutan vs El Salvador: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Bhutan and El Salvador, drivers will encounter significant contrasts in regulations and practices. From driving on the left in Bhutan to the right in El Salvador, and varying speed limits across urban and rural landscapes, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey in each country. Embark on your travel with this crucial knowledge!
Lanes
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
el salvador:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 20-40 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Signals
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not common in El Salvador |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| 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
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bhutan:
Signal when exiting
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
el salvador:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use in some areas to communicate |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Yield and make way |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
el salvador:
Yield and make way
Alcohol
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial fines and penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
el salvador:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
el salvador:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
el salvador:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 120 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | 121 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
el salvador:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
el salvador:
120
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
el salvador:
121
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
el salvador:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; $20 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | $20 to $50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | $30 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $50 to $200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, frequently enforced |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
el salvador:
$20 to $50
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
el salvador:
$30 to $100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
el salvador:
$50 to $200
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay