Driving Safety: Bolivia vs. Nepal - Key Differences
When exploring the distinctive road regulations of Bolivia and Nepal, drivers must navigate a myriad of contrasts. From the right-hand driving in Bolivia to left-hand navigation in Nepal, key variations in speed limits, traffic signals, and lane usage significantly impact travel safety. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
bolivia:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Nepal |
| 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 use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
bolivia:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
nepal:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
bolivia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay