A roadsign in Bhutan: “This is a highway, not a runway”. Image from Flickr by Hrishikesh Sharma CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Driving through the landlocked Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, you might notice a remarkable thing: many of the road signs among the mountain highways are full of wit, wisdom and puns.
The country has mostly snow-covered mountains in the north and mountainous tropical rain forest in the south. The roads on these mountains are narrow and dangerous, and speeding is always a problem. These signs are sometimes blunt to the extreme in their messaging, but they most likely make drivers think twice before breaking any rules.
Actual road sign in Bhutan ?? pic.twitter.com/A9q9rnvEEy
— Crazy World (@CrazyGloble) February 28, 2017
Bhutan has now approximately 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) of roads and no rail lines. Until 1961, travel in Bhutan was mostly by foot or on muleback or horseback as there weren't many paved thoroughfares. Road construction began during the First Development Plan (1961–66) connecting the capital Thimphu with Phuntsholing on the border of neighboring India.
However, the tiny country did not have the expertise to do the construction on its own. In 1961 the Border Roads Organisation, a subdivision of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers, started Project Dantak which helped the Bhutanese Department of Public Works to construct and maintain over 1,500 kilometres of roads and bridges, Paro Airport, several heliports and other infrastructure for more than half a century.
Bhutan started opening up to outsiders in the 1970s, and tourism is still restricted. Travellers and locals are probably nonetheless entertained by these road signs, which are in English and occasionally also in Dzhongka, Bhutan’s official language.
But they serve a very important purpose, too. There are 15.1 traffic-related fatalities per 100,000 people in Bhutan (population 742,700) every year. In Bangladesh (population 171 million), it's 13.6, and 14.2 in Pakistan (population 202 million). India has higher (population 1.252 billion), with 16.6.
According to Brigadier PKG Mishra, the chief engineer of Project Dantak, these lighthearted road signs were put in strategically:
We are using humour to convey a subtle but important message. No matter where in the world you’re from, humour is something that is easily understood, appreciated and remembered.
Facebook user Puran Gunung in Bhutan seemed to appreciate them:
I Loved Driving on the Hills coz of these boards. I would prefer this, rather than the Advertising Boards along the roads.
Creative, Informative & Helpful.
Here are a few of the signs shared on social media:
Road sign seen in Bhutan -quite an accurate assessment #distracteddriving #insurance pic.twitter.com/0zHERymeEh
— Terry Golesworthy (@TerryCRG) February 28, 2017
A particularly blunt road sign warning. ? “One who drives like hell is bound to get there.” Firey ? words on icy ❄ roads. #Bhutan #Roadtrip pic.twitter.com/N3SyMDBQLe
— ??Curtis S. Chin (@CurtisSChin) November 29, 2016
If you're married divorce speed!
~ Seen on a road sign #Bhutan #Payana— Anjali (@anjalihegde) November 11, 2016
Peep Peep, Don’t Sleep! Be gentle on my curves! Life is a journey, complete it.
Road sign in Bhutan ― reminding… https://t.co/OzPgZ1fIg3
— Inside Bhutan (@InsideBhutan) April 8, 2016
Image by Puran Gunung /Facebook. Used with permission.
Bhutan road sign, Start Lounge edition: pic.twitter.com/yuSnpHAM
— Jennifer Prior (@jhprior) May 4, 2012
Great road sign: “You have reached Trumseng La, Bhutan's highest road pass. Check Your Brakes. Bash On Regardless. Thank you.” – Jamie Zeppa
— David Nichols (@DrNick0770) September 14, 2016
Image via Puran Gurung / Facebook. Used with permission.
