Brunei vs Qatar: Key Driving Differences Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads, Brunei and Qatar present distinct driving cultures and regulations. Key disparities include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage, which significantly impact road safety. Understanding these variations is crucial for any traveler aiming to ensure a secure journey in these two unique nations.
Lanes
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
brunei:
Left
qatar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brunei:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
qatar:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
brunei:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
qatar:
Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brunei:
Use leftmost lane.
qatar:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
qatar:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
qatar:
Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
qatar:
Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
qatar:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
qatar:
Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
qatar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brunei:
N/A
qatar:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
brunei:
50 km/h
qatar:
60-80 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brunei:
40 km/h
qatar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
70-80 km/h
qatar:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brunei:
70-80 km/h
qatar:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
70-80 km/h
qatar:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
100 km/h
qatar:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
80-100 km/h
qatar:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brunei | Not used in Qatar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay; English used for important signs | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brunei:
Not used in Brunei
qatar:
Not used in Qatar
Traffic Signs: Language
brunei:
Malay; English used for important signs
qatar:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brunei:
Not allowed
qatar:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brunei:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
qatar:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not used | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brunei:
Annually required
qatar:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brunei:
Not used
qatar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
qatar:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brunei:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
qatar:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial; penalties are severe |
Limits: Underage Drivers
brunei:
0.00%; zero tolerance
qatar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brunei:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
qatar:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
brunei:
Varies; can be substantial
qatar:
Can be substantial; penalties are severe
Roundabouts
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brunei:
Signal left when preparing to exit
qatar:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 991 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 999 or local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or contact private services |
Contact: General Emergency
brunei:
991
qatar:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
brunei:
993
qatar:
999 or local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brunei:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
qatar:
Check with your insurance provider or contact private services
Penalties And Fines
| Brunei | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | B$150 | Minimum 500 QR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | B$300 | Minimum 500 QR, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | B$250 | Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, or online payment options |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
brunei:
Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
qatar:
Varies; can be substantial, point system applies
Common Fines: Alcohol
brunei:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
qatar:
Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brunei:
B$150
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR
Common Fines: Phone Use
brunei:
B$300
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR, point system applies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brunei:
B$250
qatar:
Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies
Payment: On The Spot
brunei:
Yes
qatar:
Yes, or online payment options
Payment: Deadline
brunei:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
qatar:
Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties