Driving in Bhutan vs. Senegal: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the unique driving experiences in Bhutan and Senegal, travelers must navigate distinct regulations and practices. Key contrasts include Bhutan's left-side driving, strict speed limits, and relaxed overtaking rules, while Senegal embraces right-side travel, higher speed limits, and dedicated bus lanes. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
senegal:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
senegal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
senegal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
senegal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
senegal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
senegal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
senegal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
senegal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
senegal:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Senegal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | French; 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
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| 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
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
bhutan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
senegal:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 17 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
senegal:
17
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days