Driving in Bhutan vs. Israel: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the road regulations between Bhutan and Israel reveals intriguing contrasts that can impact your travel experience. While Bhutan drives on the left, Israel adheres to right-hand driving. Overtaking rules, speed limits, and road etiquette vary significantly, highlighting the importance of understanding local traffic norms for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
israel:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
israel:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
israel:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
israel:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 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 | 100-120 km/h |
| 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
israel:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Used before green light. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Moderate 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
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
israel:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Check local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay