Driving in Costa Rica vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the diverse roadways of Costa Rica and Nepal, understanding their unique driving regulations is essential for safe travel. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Costa Rica versus the left in Nepal, and varying speed limits and penalties. Familiarizing yourself with these regulations will enhance your experience abroad and promote road safety.
Lanes
| Costa rica | 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: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Costa rica | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Nepal |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
costa rica:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Costa rica | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | 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 required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | 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
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
costa rica:
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
| Costa rica | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay