Driving in Myanmar vs. Nepal: Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Myanmar and Nepal, where road rules and regulations significantly differ. From divergent speed limits and lane usage to contrasting alcohol limits and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe travels in both countries. Prepare for a journey that highlights the essentials for road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
myanmar:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 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 | 60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
myanmar:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
myanmar:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Myanmar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
myanmar:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Myanmar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Myanmar | 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
myanmar:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
myanmar:
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
| Myanmar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay