Driving in France vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads in France and Nepal, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact road safety. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and vehicle documentation, understanding these crucial disparities is essential for a secure travel experience. Explore how these unique driving cultures shape road etiquette and safety measures in each country.
Lanes
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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
france:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
nepal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | 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 | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 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 | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
france:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Nepal |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
france:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
nepal:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Mandatory; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used |
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Roundabouts
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| 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: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
nepal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
france:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
france:
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
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay