Driving Differences: Nepal vs South Africa Explained
When navigating the roads of Nepal and South Africa, understanding local regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Notable distinctions include lane usage, speed limits, and penalties for violations, which can significantly affect your driving experience. Dive into this comprehensive comparison to better prepare for your travels in these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
nepal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
south africa:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
south africa:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
south africa:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
south africa:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
south africa:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not applicable |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
south africa:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay