Driving in Bhutan vs. Montenegro: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the road regulations and driving norms in Bhutan and Montenegro, intriguing contrasts emerge. While Bhutan drives on the left with more restrictive overtaking rules, Montenegro favors the right and permits overtaking on the left. Additionally, speed limits and alcohol tolerance vary significantly, underscoring the importance of understanding local practices for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Usually not allowed; adhere to local regulations. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with road signs and pavement markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
montenegro:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
montenegro:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
montenegro:
Usually not allowed; adhere to local regulations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
montenegro:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
montenegro:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
montenegro:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
montenegro:
Labeled with road signs and pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
montenegro:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
montenegro:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
montenegro:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
montenegro:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
montenegro:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100 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: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be imposed on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
montenegro:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
montenegro:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
montenegro:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
montenegro:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
montenegro:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
montenegro:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
montenegro:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
montenegro:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
montenegro:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
montenegro:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
montenegro:
Yes, fines can be imposed on the spot
Signals
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Montenegro |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Montenegrin; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border and white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
montenegro:
Not used in Montenegro
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
montenegro:
Montenegrin; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
montenegro:
Triangle-shaped with red border and white background
Turns
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Sometimes allowed, check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
montenegro:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
montenegro:
Sometimes allowed, check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for extended stays |
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| 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 |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
montenegro:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for extended stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
montenegro:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
montenegro:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
montenegro:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
montenegro:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
montenegro:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Use common but regulated |
| 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
montenegro:
Use common but regulated
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
montenegro:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
montenegro:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
montenegro:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
montenegro:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
montenegro:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 122 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Available from several organizations; check locally |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
montenegro:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
montenegro:
122
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
montenegro:
Available from several organizations; check locally
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
montenegro:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
montenegro:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; can be up to €1,200 for severe offenses |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines apply, amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply, amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, amount varies |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Usually within 8 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
montenegro:
Varies; can be up to €1,200 for severe offenses
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
montenegro:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
montenegro:
Fines apply, amount varies
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
montenegro:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
montenegro:
Usually within 8 days