Driving in Bhutan vs. Switzerland: Key Differences Explained

Explore the contrasting road regulations and practices between Bhutan and Switzerland, two unique driving environments. From lane usage to speed limits and alcohol thresholds, this comparison reveals that Bhutan drives on the left, while Switzerland adheres to right-side navigation. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring safety and compliance while traveling abroad.

bhutanswitzerland

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in bhutan is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bhutan is 64

0.758 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bhutan is 0.758 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Bhutan	Switzerland
Driving Side	Left	Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left	No	Yes
Overtaking: On Right	Yes	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
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

switzerland:

Right

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

bhutan:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

bhutan:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

Overtaking: On Left

bhutan:

switzerland:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

bhutan:

Yes

switzerland:

Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

bhutan:

Use leftmost lane.

switzerland:

Use rightmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

bhutan:

switzerland:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

bhutan:

N/A

switzerland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

bhutan:

N/A

switzerland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

bhutan:

switzerland:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

bhutan:

N/A

switzerland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

bhutan:

N/A

switzerland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

bhutan:

N/A

switzerland:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

bhutan:

switzerland:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

bhutan:

N/A

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Bhutan	Switzerland
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	80 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
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

bhutan:

20-30 km/h

switzerland:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

bhutan:

Up to 80 km/h

switzerland:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

bhutan:

Up to 80 km/h

switzerland:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

bhutan:

Up to 60 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

bhutan:

switzerland:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

bhutan:

N/A

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

bhutan:

switzerland:

Yes

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

bhutan:

Yes

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Signals

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	Bhutan	Switzerland
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Bhutan	Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language	English; symbols are standard	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangular-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

bhutan:

Not used in Bhutan

switzerland:

Prepare to go

Traffic Signs: Language

bhutan:

English; symbols are standard

switzerland:

Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used

Traffic Signs: Warning

bhutan:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Bhutan		Switzerland
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed	Restricted; check for signs		Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Right Turn On Red

bhutan:

Not allowed

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

U- Turns Allowed

bhutan:

Restricted; check for signs

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Documentation

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	Bhutan	Switzerland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual vehicle inspection required	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended, not mandatory	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

switzerland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

bhutan:

Annual vehicle inspection required

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

bhutan:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

switzerland:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

switzerland:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Bhutan		Switzerland
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

switzerland:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

bhutan:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

switzerland:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Bhutan	Switzerland
Limits: General Drivers	0.08%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.04%	0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during events	Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial and imprisonment possible	Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

bhutan:

0.08%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

bhutan:

0.04%

switzerland:

0.05%

Enforcement: Random Checks

bhutan:

Common, especially during events

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

Enforcement: Fines

bhutan:

Substantial and imprisonment possible

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

Test Refusal

bhutan:

Can result in license suspension

switzerland:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

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	Bhutan		Switzerland
Signaling: Entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry		No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Use for the first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

bhutan:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

Lane Usage: Right

bhutan:

Use for first exit or straight

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	Bhutan	Switzerland
Contact: General Emergency	113	112
Contact: Traffic Police	113	117
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with local providers or vehicle insurance	140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended, not mandatory	Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

bhutan:

113

switzerland:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

bhutan:

113

switzerland:

117

Contact: Roadside Assistance

bhutan:

Check with local providers or vehicle insurance

switzerland:

140

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

switzerland:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

switzerland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Bhutan	Switzerland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; often involves fines and points on license	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol	Substantial fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines enforced	CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines enforced	CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Yes	Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically immediate payment required	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

bhutan:

Varies; often involves fines and points on license

switzerland:

Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension

Common Fines: Alcohol

bhutan:

Substantial fines, possible jail time

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

bhutan:

Fines enforced

switzerland:

CHF 60

Common Fines: Phone Use

bhutan:

Fines enforced

switzerland:

CHF 100

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

bhutan:

Fines and points on license

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

bhutan:

Yes

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

bhutan:

Varies; typically immediate payment required

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay