Driving Differences: Cambodia vs. India Explained
Exploring the unique road regulations between Cambodia and India reveals intriguing contrasts in vehicular conduct. From driving sides and speed limits to overtaking rules and emergency protocols, each nation presents distinct norms for motorists. Understanding these variations ensures safer journeys for travelers navigating the diverse landscapes of these countries.
Lanes
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
india:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-50 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 | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
india:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cambodia:
Yes
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in India |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cambodia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
cambodia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
cambodia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
cambodia:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
cambodia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
india:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
cambodia:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
cambodia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
india:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay