Driving in Hungary vs. India: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through Hungary and India? Understanding the key contrasts in road rules and regulations is essential for a safe driving experience abroad. From lane usage to speed limits and alcohol policies, this comparison reveals significant distinctions that could impact your travels. Stay informed for a smoother adventure in both countries!
Lanes
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Rare | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | N/A |
Driving Side
hungary:
Right
india:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
hungary:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
india:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hungary:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hungary:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hungary:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hungary:
N/A
india:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
india:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
hungary:
50 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
india:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
70-80 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
130 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
80 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Yes
india:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
india:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
hungary:
Yes
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Not used in India |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
hungary:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
hungary:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
hungary:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
india:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
india:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
india:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
hungary:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
hungary:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
hungary:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay