Driving Differences: India vs. Norway Explained
When comparing the road practices of India and Norway, striking contrasts emerge that can significantly impact safety on the streets. From lane usage to speed regulations and alcohol limits, drivers must adapt to each nation's distinct traffic norms. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
india:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
india:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
norway:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
india:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-50 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 | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
norway:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
norway:
Yes
Signals
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Norway |
| 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 | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
norway:
Not used in Norway
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
norway:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
norway:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed |
| 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 | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
norway:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
norway:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | None |
| 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
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
norway:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | High fines and possible license revocation |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
norway:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| 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
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| India | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay