Driving in Nepal vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Nepal and North Macedonia, drivers encounter strikingly different rules and practices. From driving on opposing sides to varied speed regulations, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore the nuances of traffic etiquette, lane usage, and penalties to enhance your driving experience in these unique landscapes.
Lanes
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Driving Side | Left | Right |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70 km/h |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Prepare to go |
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Macedonian; standard symbols |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
north macedonia:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
nepal:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
nepal:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
nepal:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Annual inspection required |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
nepal:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Conducted at checkpoints |
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Roundabouts
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
north macedonia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 192 |
Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact local service providers |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
Nepal | North macedonia | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | 50 EUR |
Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | 40 EUR |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | 250 EUR, points on license |
Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Yes, often required |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay