Driving Differences: El Salvador vs. Nepal Safety Insights
Explore the distinct driving landscapes of El Salvador and Nepal, where road rules and norms diverge significantly. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is vital for ensuring a secure journey. Discover how local regulations and practices shape the driving experience in each country.
Lanes
| El salvador | 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| El salvador | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Nepal |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| 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]
el salvador:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
nepal:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| El salvador | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | 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
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| El salvador | 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
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
el salvador:
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
| El salvador | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay