Driving in Bolivia vs. India: Key Differences Revealed
When exploring the roads of Bolivia and India, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. Key differences include driving on different sides of the road, varied speed limits, and unique traffic protocols. Understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bolivia:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
india:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
india:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in India |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
india:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bolivia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
bolivia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
bolivia:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
bolivia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
india:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
bolivia:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
bolivia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
india:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay