Driving in Qatar vs. Switzerland: Key Safety Differences

Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Qatar and Switzerland, two nations with distinct driving cultures. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol consumption standards, which significantly impact safety on the roads. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.

qatarswitzerland

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in qatar is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in qatar is 79

0.576 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for qatar is 0.576 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Qatar	Switzerland
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Limited	Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.	Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	N/A	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Not applicable	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

qatar:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

qatar:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

Overtaking: On Right

qatar:

Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.

switzerland:

Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

Bus Lanes: Usage

qatar:

Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.

switzerland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

qatar:

Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.

switzerland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

qatar:

Limited

switzerland:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

qatar:

Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.

switzerland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

qatar:

N/A

switzerland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

qatar:

Not applicable

switzerland:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Qatar	Switzerland
Urban Areas: Standard	60-80 km/h	30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	60 km/h	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	100-120 km/h	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Urban Areas: Standard

qatar:

60-80 km/h

switzerland:

30-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

qatar:

60 km/h

switzerland:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

qatar:

100-120 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

qatar:

100 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

qatar:

Yes

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Signals

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	Qatar	Switzerland
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Qatar	Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language	Arabic and English; symbols are standard	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangular-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

qatar:

Not used in Qatar

switzerland:

Prepare to go

Traffic Signs: Language

qatar:

Arabic and English; symbols are standard

switzerland:

Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used

Traffic Signs: Warning

qatar:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Qatar		Switzerland
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed	Permitted unless prohibited by signs		Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Right Turn On Red

qatar:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

U- Turns Allowed

qatar:

Permitted unless prohibited by signs

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Documentation

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	Qatar	Switzerland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory	Mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

qatar:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

switzerland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

qatar:

Annual inspection required

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

qatar:

Displayed on the windshield

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

qatar:

Not mandatory

switzerland:

Mandatory

Alcohol

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	Qatar	Switzerland
Limits: General Drivers	0.00%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used regularly	Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial; penalties are severe	Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

qatar:

0.00%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

qatar:

0.00%

switzerland:

0.05%

Enforcement: Random Checks

qatar:

Common; checkpoints used regularly

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

Enforcement: Fines

qatar:

Can be substantial; penalties are severe

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

Test Refusal

qatar:

Can result in license suspension

switzerland:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

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	Qatar		Switzerland
Signaling: Entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry		No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Use for the first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

qatar:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

Lane Usage: Right

qatar:

Use for first exit or straight

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	Qatar	Switzerland
Contact: General Emergency	999	112
Contact: Traffic Police	999 or local authorities	117
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or contact private services	140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

qatar:

999

switzerland:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

qatar:

999 or local authorities

switzerland:

117

Contact: Roadside Assistance

qatar:

Check with your insurance provider or contact private services

switzerland:

140

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

qatar:

Not mandatory, but recommended

switzerland:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Qatar	Switzerland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; can be substantial, point system applies	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol	Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Minimum 500 QR	CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use	Minimum 500 QR, point system applies	CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies	Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Yes, or online payment options	Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline	Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

qatar:

Varies; can be substantial, point system applies

switzerland:

Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension

Common Fines: Alcohol

qatar:

Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

qatar:

Minimum 500 QR

switzerland:

CHF 60

Common Fines: Phone Use

qatar:

Minimum 500 QR, point system applies

switzerland:

CHF 100

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

qatar:

Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

qatar:

Yes, or online payment options

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

qatar:

Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay