Driving in Nepal vs. Singapore: Key Differences Revealed
When considering road travel in Nepal and Singapore, it's essential to understand the contrasting regulations and practices that affect your journey. From lane usage and speed limits to the nuances of road etiquette, these countries present unique automotive landscapes. Stay informed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience while navigating their distinct driving environments.
Lanes
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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. |
| 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
singapore:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
singapore:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
singapore:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
singapore:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | English; 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
singapore:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
Flashing Lights: Usage
nepal:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
nepal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Alcohol
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
singapore:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
singapore:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay