Driving in Bhutan vs. Oman: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Bhutan and Oman, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly affect their travel experience. From driving sides and speed limits to the use of emergency equipment, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring safe and compliant journeys in both countries. Explore the key variations that set these two nations apart.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
oman:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
oman:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
oman:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
oman:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
oman:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 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 |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
oman:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
oman:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
oman:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
oman:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
oman:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Oman |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
oman:
Not used in Oman
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
oman:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Regular inspection 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 | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
oman:
Regular inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
oman:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
oman:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Use more frequent 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
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
oman:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
oman:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
oman:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 9999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 9999 |
| 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 | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
oman:
9999
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
oman:
9999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
oman:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; ensure timely payment |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
oman:
Fines can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
oman:
Common
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment