Driving Differences: Cambodia vs El Salvador Explained
When embarking on a journey through Cambodia or El Salvador, understanding the nuances of their road regulations is crucial for a secure travel experience. Key distinctions include El Salvador's designated bus lanes and specific speed limits, contrasting with Cambodia's more variable rules. Familiarizing yourself with these driving practices can significantly enhance your safety abroad.
Lanes
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
el salvador:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
el salvador:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cambodia:
Yes
el salvador:
No
Signals
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not common in El Salvador |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| 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
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cambodia:
Signal when exiting
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
el salvador:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Frequent use in some areas to communicate |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Yield and make way |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
el salvador:
Yield and make way
Alcohol
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Substantial fines and penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
el salvador:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
el salvador:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 120 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 121 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
el salvador:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
el salvador:
120
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
el salvador:
121
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
el salvador:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | El salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; $20 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | $20 to $50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | $30 to $100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | $50 to $200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Yes, frequently enforced |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
el salvador:
$20 to $50
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
el salvador:
$30 to $100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
el salvador:
$50 to $200
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay