Driving in Cambodia vs. Maldives: Know the Differences
Explore the essential driving contrasts between Cambodia and the Maldives to enhance your travel safety. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and unique traffic regulations. Understanding these variations can significantly impact your experience on the road, ensuring a secure journey in these diverse destinations.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, when safe and legal. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be designated with road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Minimal |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Usually not specifically marked in many areas. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
maldives:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
maldives:
Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cambodia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
maldives:
Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
maldives:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
maldives:
Yes, when safe and legal.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
maldives:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
maldives:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
maldives:
Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
maldives:
May be designated with road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
maldives:
Minimal
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
maldives:
Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
maldives:
Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
maldives:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
maldives:
30 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
maldives:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
maldives:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
maldives:
Common
Signals
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not commonly used in Maldives |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Country-specific shapes and colors |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
maldives:
Not commonly used in Maldives
Horn Usage: Allowed
cambodia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
maldives:
Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
maldives:
Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
maldives:
Country-specific shapes and colors
Turns
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed unless signed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated |
| Special Turn Lanes | Yes, marked with arrows | Limited, mainly at main intersections |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
maldives:
Not allowed unless signed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
maldives:
Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
Special Turn Lanes
cambodia:
Yes, marked with arrows
maldives:
Limited, mainly at main intersections
Documentation
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Usually displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
maldives:
Periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
maldives:
Usually displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
cambodia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
maldives:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
maldives:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
maldives:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
maldives:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
maldives:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
maldives:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
maldives:
Fines can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
Lane Usage: Right
cambodia:
Use for first exit or straight
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Lane Usage: Left
cambodia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Contact local police for traffic issues |
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
maldives:
Contact local police for traffic issues
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; fines start from MVR 750 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Fines for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Possible for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically within a specified time |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
maldives:
Varies; fines start from MVR 750
Common Fines: Alcohol
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
maldives:
Severe penalties including license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
maldives:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
maldives:
Fines for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
maldives:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
maldives:
Possible for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
maldives:
Varies; typically within a specified time