Driving in Cambodia vs Indonesia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Cambodia and Indonesia, understanding their unique regulations and practices is essential for a secure journey. Notably, Cambodia drives on the right while Indonesia adheres to the left. This guide highlights crucial distinctions in lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signals to ensure your travels are both safe and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
indonesia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Indonesia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Indonesian; 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
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | 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
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies by region; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 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
cambodia:
119
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days