Kuwait vs Pakistan: Key Driving Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Kuwait and Pakistan, drivers encounter notable variations in regulations and practices. Key distinctions include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. Understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring secure and responsible travel in these countries, fostering a safer experience for all motorists.
Lanes
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Yes, allowed on open roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Primarily in some urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols on road. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kuwait:
Right
pakistan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
pakistan:
Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
kuwait:
Yes
pakistan:
Prohibited
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
pakistan:
Yes, allowed on open roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
pakistan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
Yes
pakistan:
Yes, in major cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
pakistan:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
pakistan:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
pakistan:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
pakistan:
Primarily in some urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
pakistan:
Bicycle symbols on road.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kuwait:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
pakistan:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
pakistan:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
pakistan:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
120 km/h
pakistan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
100 km/h
pakistan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
pakistan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kuwait:
Yes
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used in some rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | English and Urdu; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Standard warning signs used |
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kuwait:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
pakistan:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
Hand Signals: Common Usage
kuwait:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
pakistan:
Used in some rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
pakistan:
English and Urdu; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
pakistan:
Standard warning signs used
Turns
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless signs allow | Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows |
Right Turn On Red
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
pakistan:
Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows
Documentation
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Usually not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
pakistan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
pakistan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
pakistan:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
pakistan:
Usually not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent 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: Limited
kuwait:
Only in emergency situations
pakistan:
Commonly used in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
pakistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
pakistan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Varies; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in fines and legal action |
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
pakistan:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
pakistan:
Varies; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
pakistan:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
kuwait:
Can result in license suspension
pakistan:
Can result in fines and legal action
Emergency Services
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics) |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 15 for assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kuwait:
112
pakistan:
115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics)
Contact: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
pakistan:
15 for assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
pakistan:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
pakistan:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Strict penalties, including imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | Fine if not worn where mandatory |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines and possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | Yes; fines can be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
pakistan:
Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
pakistan:
Strict penalties, including imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
pakistan:
Fine if not worn where mandatory
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
pakistan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
pakistan:
Fines and possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
pakistan:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay