Driving Differences: Bhutan vs India for Safe Journeys
When navigating the unique roads of Bhutan and India, understanding the variations in traffic rules and regulations is crucial for safe travel. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and penalties for infractions. Familiarizing yourself with these driving nuances can significantly enhance your road safety experience while abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some areas |
| 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 |
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
india:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
india:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 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 | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
india:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
india:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in India |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bhutan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
bhutan:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
bhutan:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
bhutan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
india:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
india:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
bhutan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
bhutan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
india:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay