Traffic Rules in India and Nepal: How to Stay Safe on the Road

cal 30 января 2025
cal 25
cal 10 min
India and Nepal are amazing countries with rich cultural and natural heritage, attracting many tourists. However, traveling in these countries requires adherence to certain rules. We will examine the main aspects of driving on the roads of India and Nepal. Traffic rules in these countries are very different from what we are used to. The first time someone unfamiliar with such things sees the traffic, they can be shocked: horns blare everywhere, pedestrians dart across the road as if they have multiple lives, and traffic lights seem to be there for decoration. To operate a vehicle, it’s not enough to just be an experienced driver; you need to understand the character of the country and its pace of life, accept it, and then you won’t have problems on the road.

Roads in Nepal

In Nepal, the road situation isn’t great. The mountainous terrain and the harsh monsoon season greatly affect road quality, making travel slow and often very dangerous. Roads in cities and major highways between cities are paved with asphalt, but many more remote roads are simply dusty (or muddy) tracks. Therefore, when traveling in Nepal, you need to be extremely attentive and careful, and stick to well-established tourist routes. Nepal might surprise you with its chaos on the roads, but even in the chaos there are rules: officially, traffic drives on the left. You can turn left without stopping, but vehicles already in a roundabout must yield to vehicles entering it. Also, you should always give way to larger vehicles – trucks and buses.

Roads in India

In India, traffic also drives on the left, but on narrow roads oncoming vehicles may pass you however they can – a driver might decide to pass you on the right or left, whichever is convenient. But it’s worth noting that different cities may have unique traffic patterns – observe the locals, and you won’t go wrong. Traffic laws do exist in India, and residents follow them, but everything looks so different that at first, it’s difficult to grasp the logic of the traffic amidst the apparent chaos. Road conditions vary throughout the country. While in major cities, you might see relatively good roads, outside them, you’ll find narrow country roads where it’s very difficult to pass oncoming traffic, as well as slippery dirt roads with numerous sharp turns. Toll roads and major highways are considered to be good. If you’re in India for the first time, we strongly recommend not traveling alone or on challenging routes.

Traffic Priority in India

As in Nepal, India also has a vehicle priority system on the roads: preference is always given to large vehicles. Tractors, trucks, and buses go first; they almost never give way, even to vehicles of similar size. Cars are next in line; the “big vehicles” simply ignore them, but it is most difficult to drive a motorcycle or scooter: they have to pay much more attention to traffic.

The Horn

In India using headlights is very rare. On the roads, the horn is constantly sounding; it serves as a tool for communication here. With the horn, you can warn other drivers that you want to overtake, pass, or when approaching a dangerous stretch of road with poor visibility – in other words, it’s needed so that other drivers are aware that you’re also on the road with them. If you don’t honk, you don’t exist to them. Hand gestures are also popular, and together with the honking, this helps to avoid accidents and unpleasant situations on the road. However, in Nepal, using the horn is not common, and you can be fined for it. But this doesn’t stop local drivers – they use them freely despite the ban. Drivers in India are friendly, and if it seems to you that they are aggressively honking, it’s not the case. They are signaling to other road users or just honking because they are in a good mood – it’s like when you want to wave to a friend whom you randomly meet on the street. By the way, on many cars in India, you can find inscriptions that say “Use Horn.” Traffic in India at intersections is also very clear: the right of way belongs to the vehicle that approached it first and honked its horn first. To move around the Indian and Nepalese roads safely and successfully, just look around carefully, observing the behavior of locals, and don’t forget to use the horn (but only in India!).

Speed

In both India and Nepal, you’re unlikely to drive faster than 50 kilometers per hour. The traffic flow is very dense, and the roads are of low quality. However, the speed limits may differ in different parts of these countries.

Is it Safe to Ride a Motorcycle or Other Vehicle at Night?

Absolutely and definitely not, neither in India nor in Nepal. It’s very dangerous for life. Lighting, if it exists at all, is very poor – it’s not easy to navigate on narrow roads even during the day, and it’s even harder in complete darkness.

Traffic Signs

Traffic signs in India can vary greatly in different cities. In some cities, the traffic police design signs as they see fit, as long as they look somewhat like signs. In Nepal, however, in accordance with international standards, traffic signs are strictly controlled by the Department of Roads of Nepal. Road markings are rarely seen in these countries. Even if a dividing line is marked, it doesn’t matter, and everyone drives so that it’s right in the middle of the car because the edges of the road are usually occupied by people or animals, so it’s impossible to stay within your lane. In major cities, there are more signs on the road, but no one strictly follows them.

Road Users

In addition to the usual vehicles, other road users are constantly encountered on the roads. One of the frequent guests on the roads is livestock; they are constantly herded there, no matter if it’s a high-speed highway or a local dirt road. You might suddenly find yourself facing a herd of cows or sheep, and even carts pulled by horses, donkeys, and sometimes camels or elephants. Nothing stops a driver in India quite like a cow on the road. Cows are considered sacred animals in this country, so traffic immediately stops as soon as a cow steps onto the road. Movement freezes, and everyone patiently waits for the animal to cross the road and for the path to be clear again. No one would dare to scare the animal; it’s forbidden here – it’s considered that hitting a cow is worse than hitting a pedestrian, and the punishment for it is more severe. Dogs are also a serious threat to drivers – they run onto the road, disrupting traffic and creating a dangerous situation. The road is not only a domain for motorcycle and car enthusiasts but also a helper to local residents. They often dry rice or laundry on the road, and they also leave coconut shells so that vehicles crush them; they then use this crushed shell to stuff car seats or mattresses.

Conclusion

Chaotic traffic in India and Nepal is a reality you need to be prepared for: the lack of defined sidewalks and shoulders forces pedestrians to share the road with cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles. Locals, accustomed to this environment, expertly avoid collisions, but it can be a significant challenge for foreign drivers. And with that, we’ve concluded our brief overview of traffic rules in India and Nepal. We hope you found it interesting to learn more about these exotic countries. Dreaming of seeing the majestic Himalayas and vibrant cities of India with your own eyes? Our motorcycle tours are your chance to immerse yourself in an unforgettable adventure. Learn more and book your motorcycle tour now!

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