Driving in India vs. Netherlands: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of India and the Netherlands, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Notably, India adheres to left-side driving, while the Netherlands follows a right-side approach. This comparison reveals significant distinctions in lane usage, speed limits, and pedestrian protocols that every traveler should be aware of to ensure a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
india:
Left
netherlands:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
india:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
netherlands:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
netherlands:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
netherlands:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
netherlands:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
netherlands:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Netherlands |
| 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 | Dutch; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
netherlands:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
netherlands:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| 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 | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
netherlands:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
netherlands:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
netherlands:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
netherlands:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
netherlands:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
netherlands:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
netherlands:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
netherlands:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
netherlands:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| India | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required