Driving in Bhutan vs. Maldives: Key Differences Explained

When navigating the roads of Bhutan and the Maldives, understanding their unique traffic regulations and road customs is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Key contrasts include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol restrictions, which vary significantly between the two nations. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions will enhance your driving experience abroad.

bhutanmaldives

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in bhutan is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bhutan is 64

0.758 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bhutan is 0.758 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Bhutan	Maldives
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
Overtaking: On Right	Yes	Yes, when safe and legal.
Bus Lanes: Presence	No	Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage	N/A	Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
Bus Lanes: Markings	N/A	May be designated with road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	No	Minimal
Cycle Lanes: Usage	N/A	Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	N/A	Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Not applicable

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

bhutan:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

maldives:

Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

bhutan:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

maldives:

Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.

Overtaking: On Right

bhutan:

Yes

maldives:

Yes, when safe and legal.

Bus Lanes: Presence

bhutan:

maldives:

Limited

Bus Lanes: Usage

bhutan:

N/A

maldives:

Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.

Bus Lanes: Markings

bhutan:

N/A

maldives:

May be designated with road signs or markings.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

bhutan:

maldives:

Minimal

Cycle Lanes: Usage

bhutan:

N/A

maldives:

Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

bhutan:

N/A

maldives:

Usually not specifically marked in many areas.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

bhutan:

N/A

maldives:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

bhutan:

N/A

maldives:

Not applicable

Speeds Limits

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	Bhutan	Maldives
Urban Areas: Standard	30-50 km/h	30 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20-30 km/h	25 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	Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans	Up to 80 km/h	Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	Up to 60 km/h	Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	No	Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Common

Urban Areas: Standard

bhutan:

30-50 km/h

maldives:

30 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

bhutan:

20-30 km/h

maldives:

25 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

maldives:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

maldives:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

maldives:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

bhutan:

Up to 80 km/h

maldives:

Not applicable

Highways: Buses And Vans

bhutan:

Up to 80 km/h

maldives:

Not applicable

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

bhutan:

Up to 60 km/h

maldives:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

bhutan:

N/A

maldives:

Not applicable

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

bhutan:

maldives:

Yes

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

bhutan:

Yes

maldives:

Common

Signals

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	Bhutan	Maldives
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Bhutan	Not commonly used in Maldives
Horn Usage: Allowed	Only in cases to avoid accidents	Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
Traffic Signs: Language	English; symbols are standard	Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Country-specific shapes and colors

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

bhutan:

Not used in Bhutan

maldives:

Not commonly used in Maldives

Horn Usage: Allowed

bhutan:

Only in cases to avoid accidents

maldives:

Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies

Traffic Signs: Language

bhutan:

English; symbols are standard

maldives:

Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

bhutan:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

maldives:

Country-specific shapes and colors

Turns

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	Bhutan	Maldives
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed	Not allowed unless signed
U- Turns Allowed	Restricted; check for signs	Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
Special Turn Lanes	Yes, marked with arrows	Limited, mainly at main intersections

Right Turn On Red

bhutan:

Not allowed

maldives:

Not allowed unless signed

U- Turns Allowed

bhutan:

Restricted; check for signs

maldives:

Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated

Special Turn Lanes

bhutan:

Yes, marked with arrows

maldives:

Limited, mainly at main intersections

Documentation

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	Bhutan	Maldives
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual vehicle inspection required	Periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Usually displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended, not mandatory	Not 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

maldives:

Accepted with International Driving Permit

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

bhutan:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

maldives:

Accepted with International Driving Permit

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

bhutan:

Annual vehicle inspection required

maldives:

Periodic checks required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

bhutan:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

maldives:

Usually displayed on the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

maldives:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

maldives:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Bhutan		Maldives
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging	Common practice, especially in heavy traffic		Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings		Less frequent use compared to some countries

Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging

bhutan:

Common practice, especially in heavy traffic

maldives:

Common practice

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

bhutan:

Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings

maldives:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Alcohol

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	Bhutan	Maldives
Limits: General Drivers	0.08%	0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.04%	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during events	Less common
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial and imprisonment possible	Fines can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

bhutan:

0.08%

maldives:

0.00%

Limits: Professional Drivers

bhutan:

0.04%

maldives:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

bhutan:

Common, especially during events

maldives:

Less common

Enforcement: Fines

bhutan:

Substantial and imprisonment possible

maldives:

Fines can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Bhutan		Maldives
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Appropriate lanes as per signage
Lane Usage: Left	Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe		Appropriate lanes as per signage

Lane Usage: Right

bhutan:

Use for first exit or straight

maldives:

Appropriate lanes as per signage

Lane Usage: Left

bhutan:

Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe

maldives:

Appropriate lanes as per signage

Emergency Services

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	Bhutan	Maldives
Contact: General Emergency	113	119
Contact: Traffic Police	113	Contact local police for traffic issues
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

maldives:

119

Contact: Traffic Police

bhutan:

113

maldives:

Contact local police for traffic issues

Contact: Roadside Assistance

bhutan:

Check with local providers or vehicle insurance

maldives:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

maldives:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

maldives:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Bhutan	Maldives
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; often involves fines and points on license	Varies; fines start from MVR 750
Common Fines: Alcohol	Substantial fines, possible jail time	Severe penalties including license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines enforced	Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines enforced	Fines for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Yes	Possible for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically immediate payment required	Varies; typically within a specified time

Common Fines: Speeding

bhutan:

Varies; often involves fines and points on license

maldives:

Varies; fines start from MVR 750

Common Fines: Alcohol

bhutan:

Substantial fines, possible jail time

maldives:

Severe penalties including license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

bhutan:

Fines enforced

maldives:

Fines apply for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

bhutan:

Fines enforced

maldives:

Fines for use without hands-free

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

bhutan:

Fines and points on license

maldives:

Substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

bhutan:

Yes

maldives:

Possible for minor offenses

Payment: Deadline

bhutan:

Varies; typically immediate payment required

maldives:

Varies; typically within a specified time