Driving in Nepal vs. Paraguay: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Nepal and Paraguay, travelers should be aware of significant contrasts in driving regulations and practices. From differing speed limits to lane usage, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Explore the distinctive features of each country’s road culture to enhance your travel experience and safety abroad.
Lanes
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
paraguay:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
paraguay:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
paraguay:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
nepal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
paraguay:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days