Driving in Bhutan vs. Libya: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the unique road regulations of Bhutan and Libya, drivers encounter notable distinctions that impact their travel experiences. From varying speed limits and road markings to contrasting overtaking rules, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance while navigating abroad in these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the separation between directions on some roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Not commonly designated. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Not commonly designated. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Generally not used. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
libya:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
libya:
Marks the separation between directions on some roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
libya:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
libya:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
libya:
Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
libya:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
libya:
Not commonly designated.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
libya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
libya:
Not commonly designated.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
libya:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
libya:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
libya:
Generally not used.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Generally not used. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
libya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
libya:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
libya:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
libya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
libya:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
libya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
libya:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
libya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
libya:
Generally not used.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
libya:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Libya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
bhutan:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
libya:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
libya:
Not used in Libya
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
libya:
Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
libya:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed unless specified |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
libya:
Generally not allowed unless specified
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
libya:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| 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 | Required for registration and periodically thereafter |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
libya:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
libya:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
libya:
Required for registration and periodically thereafter
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
libya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
libya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
libya:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Possible; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
libya:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
libya:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
libya:
Possible; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
libya:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 193 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Varies by area |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
libya:
193
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
libya:
Varies by area
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
libya:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines based on severity |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines may apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically required within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
libya:
Varies; fines based on severity
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
libya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
libya:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
libya:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
libya:
Fines may apply
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
libya:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
libya:
Varies; typically required within 30 days