Driving in Bhutan vs. Morocco: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the nuances of road travel in Bhutan and Morocco reveals striking contrasts in regulations and practices. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and alcohol tolerance levels, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Prepare to navigate these unique road customs as you venture abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
morocco:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
morocco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Morocco |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
bhutan:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
morocco:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay