Driving in Bhutan vs. Mexico: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving regulations in Bhutan and Mexico. While Bhutan enforces left-side traffic and strict overtaking rules, Mexico allows right-side driving and overtaking on multi-lane roads. Understanding these key distinctions is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
mexico:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
mexico:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
mexico:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
mexico:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 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 | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100-120 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 | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
mexico:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
mexico:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Moderate 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
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
mexico:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
| 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
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
mexico:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments