Driving Differences: Bhutan vs. Peru for Safe Travels
When navigating the roads of Bhutan and Peru, you'll encounter distinct variations in regulations and practices. Key differences include driving on opposite sides of the road and contrasting speed limits in urban and rural areas. Understanding these unique traffic norms is essential for ensuring your safety and confidence while exploring these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
peru:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
peru:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
peru:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
peru:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
peru:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
peru:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
peru:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
peru:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 90 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 | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
peru:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
peru:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
peru:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
peru:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
peru:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
peru:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Peru |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
bhutan:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
peru:
Not used in Peru
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Typically displayed on vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
peru:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Often used more 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
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used widely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
peru:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
peru:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
peru:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay