Driving in Bhutan vs. Venezuela: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Bhutan and Venezuela, distinct driving customs and regulations emerge. Key differences include driving on opposite sides—left in Bhutan and right in Venezuela—as well as varying speed limits and vehicle etiquette. Understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, usually in larger cities |
| 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 | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | 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
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay