Driving in Bhutan vs Germany: Key Safety Differences
The driving landscape in Bhutan and Germany presents fascinating contrasts that every traveler should know. From driving orientations—left in Bhutan versus right in Germany—to varying speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Discover how each country prioritizes road safety and navigational practices.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. |
| 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. Bicycles may be allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
germany:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
germany:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
germany:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
germany:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
germany:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
germany:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
germany:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
germany:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
germany:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
germany:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
germany:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
germany:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
germany:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
germany:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
germany:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
germany:
Common
Signals
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Indicates the light is about to change to green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | German; 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
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
germany:
German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory, every 2 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on rear license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
germany:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
germany:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
germany:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial, varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
germany:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
germany:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
germany:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
germany:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
germany:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
germany:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
germany:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | €30 to €60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €90 to €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
germany:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
germany:
€30 to €60
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
germany:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
germany:
Common
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay