Driving in Nepal vs. Turkey: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Nepal and Turkey reveals significant contrasts in road regulations and safety practices. While Nepal adheres to left-side driving, Turkey follows right-side conventions. Notably, Turkey has established bus and cycle lanes, variable speed limits, and stricter enforcement measures. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring safe travels in these diverse environments.
Lanes
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
turkey:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
turkey:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
turkey:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
turkey:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
turkey:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
turkey:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
turkey:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 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, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
turkey:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
turkey:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
turkey:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | More 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
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
turkey:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
turkey:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges