Driving Differences: Bhutan vs. Saudi Arabia
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Bhutan and Saudi Arabia in our comprehensive comparison. While Bhutan adheres to left-side navigation and lower speed limits, Saudi Arabia embraces right-side driving with significantly higher speed thresholds. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe journeys in both nations.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
bhutan:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay