Guatemala vs Nepal: Key Driving Differences Explained
Explore the notable distinctions between driving in Guatemala and Nepal to enhance your road safety while abroad. Key differences include driving sides, speed regulations, and traffic protocols. Understanding these variations can significantly impact your experience, ensuring a secure journey through these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Guatemala | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | N/A |
Driving Side
guatemala:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
guatemala:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 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 | 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 | Limited use | No |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
guatemala:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
nepal:
No
Signals
| Guatemala | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in Nepal |
| 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]
guatemala:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Guatemala | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Guatemala | 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; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More 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
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Guatemala | 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
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
guatemala:
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
| Guatemala | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 100 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
nepal:
100
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay