Driving Differences: Nepal vs. South Korea
Navigating the roads of Nepal and South Korea reveals striking contrasts in traffic regulations and driving customs. While Nepal adheres to left-side driving, South Korea opts for the right. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safety and compliance during your travels in these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
south korea:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
south korea:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100-110 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
south korea:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
south korea:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 signs |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
south korea:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Yes |
| 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
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay