Driving in Nepal vs Saudi Arabia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Nepal versus Saudi Arabia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experiences. From lane discipline—where Nepal drives on the left and Saudi Arabia on the right—to varying speed limits and alcohol consumption rules, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring safe journeys abroad. Explore how these countries differ today!
Lanes
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
nepal:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
nepal:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
saudi arabia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay