Driving in Bhutan vs. Lebanon: Key Safety Differences
Explore the distinct driving regulations and road customs in Bhutan and Lebanon. From varying speed limits to unique lane usage practices, this comparison highlights crucial disparities that can impact your journey. Understanding these differences is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used as a separation line in some areas. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
lebanon:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
lebanon:
Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
lebanon:
Used as a separation line in some areas.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
lebanon:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
lebanon:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
lebanon:
Use rightmost lane.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
lebanon:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
lebanon:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
lebanon:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
lebanon:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
lebanon:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
lebanon:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Lebanon |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
lebanon:
Not used in Lebanon
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bhutan:
Signal when exiting
lebanon:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
lebanon:
Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
lebanon:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
lebanon:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, annual inspection 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 |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lebanon:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lebanon:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
lebanon:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
lebanon:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
lebanon:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
lebanon:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Horn usage is more frequent 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
lebanon:
Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
lebanon:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common through checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial for violations |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
lebanon:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
lebanon:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
lebanon:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
lebanon:
Common through checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
lebanon:
Substantial for violations
Roundabouts
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when preparing to enter |
Signaling: Entering
bhutan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
lebanon:
Signal when preparing to enter
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Varies; consult your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
lebanon:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
lebanon:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
lebanon:
Varies; consult your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
lebanon:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
lebanon:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; may lead to substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Fines and potential incarceration |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; often paid at stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Usually within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
lebanon:
Varies; may lead to substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
lebanon:
Fines and potential incarceration
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
lebanon:
Mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
lebanon:
Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
lebanon:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
lebanon:
Possible; often paid at stations
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
lebanon:
Usually within 15-30 days