Driving Differences: Bhutan vs. Vanuatu Explained
When navigating the roads of Bhutan and Vanuatu, drivers encounter notable variations in traffic regulations and practices. From the contrasting sides of the road—left in Bhutan and right in Vanuatu—to speed limits and overtaking rules, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in each country. Discover the essential driving nuances that enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
vanuatu:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
vanuatu:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 80 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Vanuatu |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Turns
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Insurance
bhutan:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 to the side and stop, if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
vanuatu:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
vanuatu:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| 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
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; or through police stations |
| 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
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
vanuatu:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay