Driving in Colombia vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Colombia and Nepal, understanding the variations in driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure experience. Key distinctions include driving sides—Colombia adheres to the right, while Nepal drives on the left—as well as notable differences in speed limits and road signaling. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge to travel safely abroad.
Lanes
| Colombia | 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
colombia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
colombia:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
colombia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Colombia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
colombia:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Colombia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Colombia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Mandatory; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Colombia | 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
colombia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
colombia:
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
| Colombia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay