Driving in Bhutan vs. Serbia: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the distinct road rules between Bhutan and Serbia reveals fascinating contrasts in their driving environments. From lane usage—where Bhutan drives on the left versus Serbia's right—to speed limits and emergency protocols, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Stay informed to navigate these diverse landscapes safely!
Lanes
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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'; 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
serbia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
serbia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
serbia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70 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
serbia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay