Driving in Nepal vs. Spain: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Nepal and Spain, two nations with unique driving cultures. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol tolerance and emergency protocols, understanding these variances is essential for ensuring safe travels. Prepare yourself with the knowledge needed to navigate the roads confidently in both countries.
Lanes
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| 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 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
spain:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
spain:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
spain:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
spain:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 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, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
spain:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
spain:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
spain:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
spain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
spain:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| 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
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay