Driving Differences: Nepal vs Philippines Explained
Embarking on a journey in Nepal or the Philippines? Understanding the unique driving customs and regulations in these diverse nations is essential for your safety. From lane usage to speed limits, discover how driving on the left in Nepal starkly contrasts with the right-hand system in the Philippines, ensuring informed travels abroad.
Lanes
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
philippines:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
philippines:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
philippines:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
nepal:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
philippines:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
philippines:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
nepal:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
philippines:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
philippines:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance