Driving in Nepal vs. Vanuatu: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts between driving in Nepal and Vanuatu, where road customs and regulations vary significantly. From driving sides to speed limits, these nations exhibit unique approaches to vehicular navigation. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey while abroad.
Lanes
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
vanuatu:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
vanuatu:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
vanuatu:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Vanuatu |
| 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
vanuatu:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
nepal:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 to the side and stop, if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
vanuatu:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
vanuatu:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
vanuatu:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Possible; or through police stations |
| 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
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay