Driving Differences: Bhutan vs Nepal for Safe Travels
When exploring the roads of Bhutan and Nepal, it's crucial to understand their unique driving regulations and practices. Key distinctions include varying speed limits, traffic signal conventions, and the use of alcohol while behind the wheel. This comparison will equip travelers with essential knowledge to navigate these beautiful countries safely and confidently.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Keep left. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
bhutan:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| 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 | Mandatory; proof 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 | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
bhutan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
bhutan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay