Driving in Bhutan vs Madagascar: Key Safety Differences
Discover the essential distinctions in road regulations between Bhutan and Madagascar. While Bhutan adheres to left-side driving, Madagascar opts for the right. Speed limits, lane usage, and traffic enforcement vary significantly, highlighting unique safety practices. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience in each country.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
madagascar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
madagascar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
bhutan:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
bhutan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
bhutan:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bhutan:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bhutan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| 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
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bhutan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
bhutan:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
bhutan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
bhutan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
bhutan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority