Driving in Afghanistan vs. Indonesia: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing distinctions in road regulations and driving practices between Afghanistan and Indonesia. While Afghanistan drives on the right, Indonesia adheres to left-side navigation. Speed limits, lane usage, and safety protocols vary significantly, emphasizing the importance of understanding these contrasts for a secure travel experience abroad.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
indonesia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
afghanistan:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
indonesia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
indonesia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Indonesia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
indonesia:
Common
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days