Driving in Cambodia vs. Canada: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Cambodia and Canada presents unique contrasts that every traveler should understand for optimal road safety. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations, with Cambodia emphasizing a more lenient approach compared to Canada's stricter standards. Familiarizing yourself with these variances can enhance your experience and ensure a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cambodia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
canada:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
canada:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
canada:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, but varies by province |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
canada:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
canada:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
canada:
90-110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
Signals
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Canada |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
canada:
Not used in Canada
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
Turns
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Varies by province and locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Mandatory liability insurance |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
cambodia:
Liability insurance mandatory
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies by province; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
canada:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
canada:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Depends on province; often 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or CAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
canada:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Varies; often upwards of $200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay