Driving in Nepal vs. Portugal: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Nepal and Portugal, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journeys. From differing sides of the road and speed limits to unique signage and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe travels abroad. Discover how these two nations' road rules diverge significantly to promote safety on their highways.
Lanes
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
portugal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
portugal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
portugal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 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 | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
portugal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
portugal:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
portugal:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be 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
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
portugal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
portugal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay