Driving in Cambodia vs. Malaysia: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Cambodia and Malaysia, drivers must navigate distinct regulations and practices that shape their experience behind the wheel. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and overtaking rules, all of which play a crucial role in ensuring safety while traveling. Understanding these variations is essential for a smooth journey in either country.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| 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 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cambodia:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Signals
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay