Driving in Madagascar vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Madagascar and Nepal, travelers must navigate distinct regulations and practices that influence their journeys. Key variations include the driving side—right in Madagascar versus left in Nepal—and contrasting speed limits, signaling rules, and road etiquette. Understanding these essential differences is crucial for ensuring safe and enjoyable travel experiences in these unique countries.
Lanes
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Typically not used. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Stay to the right lane when possible. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Available mainly in urban areas | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved mostly for buses. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be marked clearly in major cities. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Sparse | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles unless marked. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes, when possible. | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are fixed. | N/A |
Driving Side
madagascar:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
madagascar:
Typically not used.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
madagascar:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
madagascar:
Sparse
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
madagascar:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
madagascar:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
nepal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, particularly in urban areas. | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common. | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
madagascar:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
madagascar:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
madagascar:
Not applicable
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
madagascar:
Yes, common.
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Nepal |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | May apply for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French and Malagasy | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular signs with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
madagascar:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
madagascar:
Not commonly used
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Horn Usage: Allowed
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
nepal:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
nepal:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
nepal:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
nepal:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless specified otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
madagascar:
Prohibited
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for all vehicles | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Indication may vary | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
madagascar:
Indication may vary
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
madagascar:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Use is more frequent in urban areas | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Significantly used for communication with other drivers | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
nepal:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
nepal:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
nepal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Test Refusal | Results in penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
madagascar:
0.08%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
madagascar:
0.08%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
madagascar:
0.02%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Test Refusal
madagascar:
Results in penalties
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Not commonly practiced | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Recommended to 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: Entering
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
nepal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
madagascar:
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
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 117 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Could vary; commonly police contact | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider, public services might be limited | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
madagascar:
117
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
madagascar:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Madagascar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-use | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use while driving | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Monetary fines applied | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common for minor offenses | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Determined by issuing authority | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay