Driving in Israel vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
As you venture abroad, understanding the distinct driving customs and regulations in Israel and Nepal is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key contrasts include driving on opposite sides of the road, varying speed limits, and traffic signal protocols. Familiarizing yourself with these disparities can significantly enhance your road safety and overall travel experience.
Lanes
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
israel:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
israel:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
israel:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Nepal |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
israel:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
israel:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay