Driving in Bhutan vs. Slovakia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the distinct road regulations of Bhutan and Slovakia, it becomes evident that driving customs vary significantly. Key differences include Bhutan’s left-side driving and absence of bus lanes, contrasted with Slovakia’s right-side orientation and structured lane usage. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safety and a smooth journey while navigating abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
slovakia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
slovakia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
slovakia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
slovakia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
slovakia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
slovakia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
slovakia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
slovakia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 90 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: 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
slovakia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
slovakia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
slovakia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
slovakia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Slovakia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Slovak; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 along with local license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory and regular inspections required |
| 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
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovakia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
slovakia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| 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%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
slovakia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
slovakia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 158 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
slovakia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
slovakia:
158
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | €50 to €150, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | €100 to €200, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €100 to €250, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
slovakia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
slovakia:
Common
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay