Driving in Bhutan vs. Slovenia: Key Differences Explained
When considering travel to Bhutan or Slovenia, understanding their distinct road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key variations include driving on the left in Bhutan versus the right in Slovenia, differing speed limits, and the presence of bus and cycle lanes. Navigating these unique driving environments will ensure a smoother experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. |
| 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
slovenia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
slovenia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
slovenia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
slovenia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
slovenia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
slovenia:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
slovenia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
slovenia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
slovenia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
slovenia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines are often issued directly by police |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
slovenia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
slovenia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
slovenia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
slovenia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
slovenia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
slovenia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
slovenia:
Yes, fines are often issued directly by police
Signals
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Slovenia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Slovenian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
slovenia:
Not used in Slovenia
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
slovenia:
Slovenian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
slovenia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
slovenia:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, periodic 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
slovenia:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
slovenia:
International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
slovenia:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
slovenia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
slovenia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovenia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
slovenia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; roadside checks conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Severe fines; varies based on offense |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
slovenia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
slovenia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
slovenia:
Common; roadside checks conducted
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
slovenia:
Severe fines; varies based on offense
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | 1987 for AMZS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
slovenia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
slovenia:
1987 for AMZS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
slovenia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, €250 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline |
| 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
slovenia:
Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
slovenia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
slovenia:
Fines apply, €250
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
slovenia:
Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
slovenia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay