Driving in Greece vs. Nepal: Key Differences Explained
When venturing from Greece to Nepal, understanding the nuances of road regulations is paramount for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Greece versus the left in Nepal, as well as differing speed limits and traffic protocols. Stay informed to navigate these unique environments confidently and safely!
Lanes
| Greece | 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 | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
greece:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
greece:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
greece:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
greece:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
greece:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Greece | 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 | 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 | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
greece:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
greece:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
greece:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Greece | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Nepal |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
greece:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Documentation
| Greece | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | 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
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Greece | 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
greece:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
greece:
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
| Greece | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
greece:
112
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay