Driving in Cambodia vs. Ireland: Key Safety Differences
When considering a journey through Cambodia or Ireland, understanding the contrasting road regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure trip. From distinct driving sides—right in Cambodia and left in Ireland—to varying speed limits and overtaking rules, each nation offers a unique driving landscape. Familiarize yourself with these vital distinctions for a safer travel experience.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtake on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cambodia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
ireland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 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 | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
ireland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
ireland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
ireland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
ireland:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
cambodia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cambodia:
Signal when exiting
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cambodia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
ireland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| 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 | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Random breath testing is common. |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
ireland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Required |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
ireland:
Required
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | €60 fine and two penalty points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | €60 fine and three penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Possible; fines can be issued 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
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay