Driving in Bhutan vs. Italy: A Safety Comparison
When comparing the driving landscape of Bhutan and Italy, significant variations emerge that impact road safety and navigation. From differing rules on lane usage and speed limits to distinct traffic signals and documentation requirements, understanding these contrasts is crucial for travelers. Prepare to navigate the roads with confidence as we delve into these pivotal distinctions.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
italy:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
italy:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
italy:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
italy:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 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: 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
italy:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
italy:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
italy:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
italy:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
italy:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
italy:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days