Driving in Nepal vs. Russia: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the roadway regulations of Nepal and Russia, significant distinctions emerge that are crucial for safe navigation. Notably, Nepal drives on the left side, while Russia adheres to the right. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage vary greatly, highlighting the importance of understanding local driving customs to ensure a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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 with specific road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
russia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
russia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
russia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
russia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-80 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 | 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 | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
russia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Russia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Russian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
russia:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
russia:
Not used in Russia
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.035% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
nepal:
0.05%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
russia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay