Driving in Oman vs Pakistan: Key Safety Differences
When venturing from Oman to Pakistan, understanding the distinct driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving on the right in Oman versus the left in Pakistan, and varying speed limits, with Oman allowing higher speeds for vehicles on highways. Familiarizing yourself with these variations promotes a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, allowed on open roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in major cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in some urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols on road. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
oman:
Right
pakistan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
oman:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
pakistan:
Dividing line for different directions; overtaking not allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
oman:
Yes
pakistan:
Prohibited
Overtaking: On Right
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
pakistan:
Yes, allowed on open roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
pakistan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
oman:
No
pakistan:
Yes, in major cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
oman:
N/A
pakistan:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
oman:
N/A
pakistan:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
oman:
Yes
pakistan:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
oman:
Exclusive for bicycles.
pakistan:
Primarily in some urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
oman:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
pakistan:
Bicycle symbols on road.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
oman:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
oman:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued on the spot |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
oman:
80-100 km/h
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
oman:
80 km/h
pakistan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
oman:
120 km/h
pakistan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
oman:
100 km/h
pakistan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
oman:
100 km/h
pakistan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
oman:
N/A
pakistan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
oman:
Yes
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Oman | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used in some rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | English and Urdu; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Standard warning signs used |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
oman:
Not used in Oman
pakistan:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
pakistan:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
Hand Signals: Common Usage
oman:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
pakistan:
Used in some rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
pakistan:
English and Urdu; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
pakistan:
Standard warning signs used
Turns
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
oman:
Not typically allowed
pakistan:
Prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows
U- Turns Allowed
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
pakistan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Usually not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
pakistan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
pakistan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
oman:
Regular inspection required
pakistan:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
oman:
Displayed on windshield
pakistan:
Usually not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
oman:
Mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
oman:
Recommended
pakistan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use more frequent compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
oman:
Only in emergency situations
pakistan:
Commonly used in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
pakistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
pakistan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties | Can result in fines and legal action |
Enforcement: Random Checks
oman:
Common
pakistan:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
oman:
Substantial fines
pakistan:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
pakistan:
Can result in fines and legal action
Emergency Services
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics) |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 9999 | 15 for assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
oman:
9999
pakistan:
115 (Rescue 1122 for paramedics)
Contact: Traffic Police
oman:
9999
pakistan:
15 for assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
pakistan:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Pakistan
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
oman:
Mandatory
pakistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
oman:
Recommended
pakistan:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Oman | Pakistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Strict penalties, including imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines may apply | Fine if not worn where mandatory |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines can be substantial | Fines and possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes; fines can be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; ensure timely payment | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
pakistan:
Varies; possible impoundment of vehicle
Common Fines: Alcohol
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
pakistan:
Strict penalties, including imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
oman:
Fines may apply
pakistan:
Fine if not worn where mandatory
Common Fines: Phone Use
oman:
Fines may apply
pakistan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
oman:
Fines can be substantial
pakistan:
Fines and possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
oman:
Common
pakistan:
Yes; fines can be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment
pakistan:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay