Driving Safety: Bhutan vs. Estonia – Key Differences
When comparing the driving regulations in Bhutan and Estonia, notable contrasts emerge that are crucial for ensuring road safety. From the side of the road you traverse to speed limits and lane usage, these variations underscore the importance of being informed before hitting the road in either country. Discover essential guidelines to navigate these distinct driving landscapes effectively.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
estonia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
estonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
estonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
estonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
estonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
estonia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
estonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
estonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
estonia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
estonia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
estonia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
estonia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
estonia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
estonia:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Estonia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Estonian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
bhutan:
Amber
estonia:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required every year; proof must be carried |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
estonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
estonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
estonia:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
estonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 112 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
estonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
estonia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
estonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
estonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines apply |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties