Driving in Dominican Republic vs. Nepal: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of the Dominican Republic and Nepal, understanding their distinct regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key contrasts include driving on the right in the Dominican Republic versus the left in Nepal, as well as varying speed limits and traffic signal conventions. Equip yourself with these insights to ensure a safe driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | 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, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | N/A |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
dominican republic:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Dominican republic | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Nepal |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| 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]
dominican republic:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
nepal:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Dominican republic | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | 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 | Yes, annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | 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: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
nepal:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
nepal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Dominican republic | 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
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
dominican republic:
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
| Dominican republic | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay