Driving in India vs. Uzbekistan: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of India and Uzbekistan, drivers must be aware of significant variations in regulations and practices. Key distinctions include driving on the left in India versus the right in Uzbekistan, differing speed limits, and unique lane usages. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring safe and responsible travel in each country.
Lanes
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically used to separate opposing traffic on undivided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Generally discouraged, unless unavoidable. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane where possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often indicated by signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Limited, mostly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles where present. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | May have bicycle symbols or distinct paint. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
india:
Left
uzbekistan:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uzbekistan:
Typically used to separate opposing traffic on undivided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
uzbekistan:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
uzbekistan:
Generally discouraged, unless unavoidable.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
india:
List length: 5
uzbekistan:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
uzbekistan:
Use the rightmost lane where possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
uzbekistan:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
uzbekistan:
Reserved for buses in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
uzbekistan:
Labeled 'BUS'; often indicated by signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
uzbekistan:
Limited, mostly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uzbekistan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
uzbekistan:
May have bicycle symbols or distinct paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
uzbekistan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
uzbekistan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 90 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; issued by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
uzbekistan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
uzbekistan:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
uzbekistan:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
uzbekistan:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
uzbekistan:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
uzbekistan:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
uzbekistan:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
uzbekistan:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
uzbekistan:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
uzbekistan:
Yes; issued by traffic police
Signals
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Uzbekistan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged at night in residential areas |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Generally uncommon, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | Uzbek and Russian; 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
uzbekistan:
Not used in Uzbekistan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
uzbekistan:
Discouraged at night in residential areas
Headlight Flash: Usage
india:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
uzbekistan:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
uzbekistan:
Generally uncommon, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
uzbekistan:
Uzbek and Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
uzbekistan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
| 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 except where prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
uzbekistan:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
uzbekistan:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
uzbekistan:
Allowed except where prohibited by signs
Documentation
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
uzbekistan:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
uzbekistan:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
uzbekistan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
uzbekistan:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
uzbekistan:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
uzbekistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged |
| 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 | Generally more frequent due to local driving habits |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
india:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
uzbekistan:
Encouraged
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
uzbekistan:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
uzbekistan:
Generally more frequent due to local driving habits
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
uzbekistan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
uzbekistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance for drivers under 21 |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints are frequently utilized |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity of infraction |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
uzbekistan:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
uzbekistan:
0.00%; zero tolerance for drivers under 21
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
uzbekistan:
Common; checkpoints are frequently utilized
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
uzbekistan:
Substantial, varies by severity of infraction
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
uzbekistan:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
uzbekistan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
uzbekistan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 103 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 102 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
uzbekistan:
103
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
uzbekistan:
102
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
uzbekistan:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
uzbekistan:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines for using phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines issued, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Not typical; fines often paid through bank or office |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible for severe violations or unpaid fines |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
uzbekistan:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
uzbekistan:
Fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
uzbekistan:
Fines for using phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
uzbekistan:
Fines issued, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
uzbekistan:
Not typical; fines often paid through bank or office
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
uzbekistan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
india:
Possible if fines are not paid
uzbekistan:
Possible for severe violations or unpaid fines