Driving in Mexico vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads, Mexico and Nepal offer distinct experiences for travelers. From varying lane rules and speed limits to contrasting traffic signals and safety regulations, understanding these key distinctions is vital for a secure journey. Dive into our comparison to ensure you drive confidently and safely in both countries.
Lanes
| Mexico | 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 | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead 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; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
mexico:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
mexico:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
mexico:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
mexico:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
mexico:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mexico:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Mexico | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 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 | 70-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
mexico:
40-60 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mexico:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
mexico:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
70-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
100-120 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mexico:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
mexico:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Mexico | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mexico | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular signs with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
mexico:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Mexico | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Mexico | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mexico:
Not mandatory
nepal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Mexico | 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
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mexico | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used |
Limits: General Drivers
mexico:
0.08%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
mexico:
0.04%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mexico:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Roundabouts
| Mexico | 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
mexico:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
mexico:
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
| Mexico | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 066 or 911 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
mexico:
911
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
mexico:
066 or 911
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Mexico | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, up to $50, points in some states | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; can lead to significant fines | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; system improvements for online payments | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay