Driving in Bhutan vs. Monaco: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the contrasting rules of the road between Bhutan and Monaco, safety takes center stage. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Bhutan versus the right in Monaco, differing speed limits, and unique traffic signaling systems. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
monaco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
monaco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common for traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
monaco:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
monaco:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
monaco:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| 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
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
monaco:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
monaco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
monaco:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
monaco:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
monaco:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
monaco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
monaco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon