Driving Safety: Bhutan vs. Uganda Insights
When navigating the roads of Bhutan and Uganda, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experiences. Key highlights include Bhutan's stricter speed limits and absence of bus lanes, contrasted with Uganda’s allowance for overtaking on the right and mandatory bus lane usage. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not allowed |
| 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 | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
uganda:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
uganda:
Not allowed
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
uganda:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
uganda:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
uganda:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
uganda:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Uganda |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| 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
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
uganda:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Frequent use in certain situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
uganda:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket