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.

bhutannepal

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in bhutan is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bhutan is 64

0.758 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bhutan is 0.758 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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