Driving in Bhutan vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
When venturing into Bhutan and Sri Lanka, understanding the nuances of road rules is paramount for safe travel. Key differences emerge, such as speed limits, the use of bus lanes, and the approach to alcohol consumption. Discover how these two unique nations shape their road etiquette and regulations to ensure a secure driving experience.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bhutan:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit 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 | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bhutan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay