Driving in Cambodia vs. Myanmar: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Cambodia and Myanmar, motorists encounter notable variations in regulations and practices. Key distinctions include lane usage, speed limits, and documentation requirements. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad, allowing travelers to adapt seamlessly to local road customs.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
myanmar:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
myanmar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Signals
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Myanmar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the 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
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
myanmar:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
cambodia:
Can result in license suspension
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Available through some insurance providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
myanmar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Possible; else must be paid at office |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay