Driving Differences: Bhutan vs. Qatar Safety Insights
Driving in Bhutan and Qatar presents distinct contrasts that every traveler should recognize. Key differences include the driving side, speed limits, and alcohol regulations. While Bhutan adheres to left-side navigation with lower speed limits, Qatar favors right-side driving and imposes a strict zero-tolerance alcohol policy. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe journey in either country.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are 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 authorized vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
qatar:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
qatar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
qatar:
Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
qatar:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
qatar:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
qatar:
Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
qatar:
Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
qatar:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
qatar:
Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
qatar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
qatar:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 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 | 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: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
qatar:
60-80 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
qatar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
qatar:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
qatar:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
qatar:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
qatar:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
qatar:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
qatar:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
qatar:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Qatar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
qatar:
Not used in Qatar
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
qatar:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
qatar:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
qatar:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
qatar:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
qatar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
qatar:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
qatar:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial; penalties are severe |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
qatar:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
qatar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
qatar:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
qatar:
Can be substantial; penalties are severe
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 999 or local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or contact private services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
qatar:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
qatar:
999 or local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
qatar:
Check with your insurance provider or contact private services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Minimum 500 QR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Minimum 500 QR, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, or online payment options |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
qatar:
Varies; can be substantial, point system applies
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
qatar:
Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR, point system applies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
qatar:
Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
qatar:
Yes, or online payment options
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
qatar:
Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties