Driving in Bhutan vs. Greece: Essential Safety Tips
When comparing the roadway practices of Bhutan and Greece, several striking contrasts emerge. From driving sides—left in Bhutan versus right in Greece—to speed limits and lane utilization, understanding these distinctions is vital for safe travel. This guide highlights essential regulations and cultural nuances to navigate each country's roads confidently.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
greece:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
greece:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
greece:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
greece:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
greece:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
greece:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
greece:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
greece:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
greece:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
greece:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
greece:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Greece |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
greece:
Not used in Greece
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| 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 | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required |
| 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
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Common; police may set up roadblocks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
greece:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
greece:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | 10400 for ELPA assistance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
greece:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
greece:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
greece:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | €350, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €350, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 10 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
greece:
€350, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
greece:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
greece:
€350, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay