Driving Differences: India vs Oman for Safe Travels
Discover the contrasts in road regulations and practices between India and Oman. While India drives on the left, Oman adheres to right-side navigation. Explore crucial distinctions in speed limits, lane usage, and penalties, ensuring a safer journey wherever you travel. Understanding these variations is vital for your protection on the roads abroad.
Lanes
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| 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 | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
india:
Left
oman:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
oman:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
oman:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
oman:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
oman:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
oman:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
oman:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
oman:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| 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
oman:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
oman:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
oman:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
oman:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
oman:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
oman:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
oman:
Yes
Signals
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Oman |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| 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 | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
oman:
Not used in Oman
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
oman:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not typically 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
oman:
Not typically allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
oman:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Regular inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
oman:
Regular inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
oman:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
oman:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Use more frequent 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
oman:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
oman:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
oman:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
oman:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
oman:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
Roundabouts
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
oman:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
oman:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 9999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 9999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
oman:
9999
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
oman:
9999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| India | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; ensure timely payment |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
oman:
Fines can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
oman:
Common
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment