Driving in Cambodia vs. Costa Rica: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Cambodia and Costa Rica, travelers encounter distinct approaches to transportation regulations and road practices. While Cambodia emphasizes specific lane usage, Costa Rica adopts a more standardized speed limit framework. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
costa rica:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
costa rica:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
costa rica:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are generally static. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
costa rica:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
costa rica:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cambodia:
Yes
costa rica:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
Signals
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Costa Rica |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cambodia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
Documentation
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Annual inspection required; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
costa rica:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Frequent use is common to signal intentions |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints are used throughout |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 911 or direct number depending on location |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
costa rica:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
costa rica:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
costa rica:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Costa rica | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Fines applicable for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines applicable for non-compliance |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common; police may issue fines on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay