Driving in India vs. Monaco: Key Differences Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road rules is essential for a secure journey. This comparison between India and Monaco reveals striking contrasts, such as driving sides, speed regulations, and lane usage. While India follows left-hand driving with varied speed limits, Monaco adheres to right-hand driving and standardized speeds, showcasing the importance of adaptability for safe navigation.
Lanes
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
Driving Side
india:
Left
monaco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
india:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
monaco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Common for traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
monaco:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
monaco:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
india:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
monaco:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
monaco:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Prohibited |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
monaco:
Prohibited
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
monaco:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Required annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
monaco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
monaco:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
monaco:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
monaco:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
monaco:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
monaco:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
monaco:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
monaco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
monaco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon