Driving in Bhutan vs. Norway: A Safety Comparison
Discover the contrasts in road regulations and safety practices between Bhutan and Norway. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and emergency protocols, this comparison highlights essential distinctions that every traveler should know for safe navigation abroad. Understanding these unique driving customs is key to ensuring a secure journey in both countries.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
norway:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
norway:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
norway:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| 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 inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, typically required |
| 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
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay