Driving in Cambodia vs Madagascar: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique road rules and regulations of Cambodia and Madagascar, essential for ensuring your travel safety. This comparison highlights significant distinctions, such as lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signals, showcasing how local customs influence driving practices. Prepare for your journey by understanding these crucial variations in driving standards.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
cambodia:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 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 | 60-80 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cambodia:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
cambodia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cambodia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
cambodia:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
cambodia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
cambodia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
cambodia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
cambodia:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
cambodia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
cambodia:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
cambodia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority