Driving Differences: Bhutan vs. Ivory Coast
When embarking on a journey through Bhutan or Ivory Coast, understanding their unique road regulations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience. Key distinctions include driving sides—left in Bhutan and right in Ivory Coast—as well as speed limits and lane usage, all of which significantly influence road conduct and safety. Stay informed to navigate these countries confidently!
Lanes
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Typically 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, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
ivory coast:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
ivory coast:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
ivory coast:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
ivory coast:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 110 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, for some infractions. |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
ivory coast:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
ivory coast:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
ivory coast:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French; 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
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Headlight Flash: Usage
bhutan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| 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 side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
bhutan:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| 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
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated