Driving Differences: Bhutan vs. Romania Explained
When venturing into the roads of Bhutan or Romania, understanding the unique nuances of their driving regulations is crucial for ensuring safe travels. Key differences include Bhutan's left-side driving and restricted overtaking, contrasting with Romania's right-side norms and more flexible lane usage. Prepare yourself with this essential guide for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
romania:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
romania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
romania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
romania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
romania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 130 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 | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
romania:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Moderate use expected |
| 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
romania:
Moderate use expected
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
bhutan:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist