Driving in Estonia vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
When comparing road etiquette and regulations in Estonia and Nepal, striking contrasts emerge. Estonia drives on the right, while Nepal adheres to the left. Speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol restrictions vary significantly, emphasizing the importance of understanding these distinctions to ensure a safe journey in each country. Explore these critical variations to enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
estonia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Estonia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Estonia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Estonia | 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 | Required every year; proof must be carried | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
estonia:
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
| Estonia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 100 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
nepal:
100
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay