Driving in Bhutan vs. Liechtenstein: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Bhutan and Liechtenstein, travelers will encounter significant distinctions in driving regulations and practices. From lane usage to speed limits, Bhutan's left-side driving contrasts sharply with Liechtenstein's right-side norm. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience behind the wheel in these unique destinations.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used primarily at construction sites; indicates no passing. |
| 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: Usage | N/A | Not typically used in Liechtenstein. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
liechtenstein:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
liechtenstein:
Used primarily at construction sites; indicates no passing.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
liechtenstein:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
liechtenstein:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
liechtenstein:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
liechtenstein:
Not typically used in Liechtenstein.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
liechtenstein:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
liechtenstein:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
liechtenstein:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
liechtenstein:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
liechtenstein:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
liechtenstein:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 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 | Yes; fines can often be paid immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
liechtenstein:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
liechtenstein:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
liechtenstein:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
liechtenstein:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
liechtenstein:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
liechtenstein:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
liechtenstein:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
liechtenstein:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
liechtenstein:
Yes; fines can often be paid immediately
Signals
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Used to indicate that the light is about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
liechtenstein:
Used to indicate that the light is about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
liechtenstein:
German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
liechtenstein:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
liechtenstein:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required annually |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
liechtenstein:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
liechtenstein:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
liechtenstein:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
liechtenstein:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used to deter drunk driving |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Heavy fines; varies by severity |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
liechtenstein:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
liechtenstein:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
liechtenstein:
Common; checkpoints used to deter drunk driving
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
liechtenstein:
Heavy fines; varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Contact insurance company or local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
liechtenstein:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
liechtenstein:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
liechtenstein:
Contact insurance company or local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
liechtenstein:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines for use without hands-free kit; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Heavy fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes; fines can often be paid immediately |
| 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
liechtenstein:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
liechtenstein:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
liechtenstein:
Mandatory, fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
liechtenstein:
Fines for use without hands-free kit; can be substantial
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
liechtenstein:
Heavy fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
liechtenstein:
Yes; fines can often be paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
liechtenstein:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay