Driving in Bhutan vs. Guatemala: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the driving landscapes of Bhutan and Guatemala reveals intriguing contrasts that are vital for ensuring road safety abroad. From differing lane regulations and speed limits to unique traffic protocols, this comparison highlights how driving norms can vary significantly. Prepare to navigate these distinct environments with our insightful analysis!
Lanes
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Varies by location. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
guatemala:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
guatemala:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
guatemala:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
guatemala:
Varies by location.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
guatemala:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
guatemala:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
guatemala:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
guatemala:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Guatemala |
| 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies, check local signs for permission |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| 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
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | More 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
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies by locality; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
guatemala:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
guatemala:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 110 |
| 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
guatemala:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
guatemala:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
guatemala:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; check with local authorities |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
guatemala:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
guatemala:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities