Driving in Cambodia vs. Nepal: Safety Insights Revealed
When navigating the roads of Cambodia and Nepal, understanding the distinct regulations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Key discrepancies include driving on opposite sides—right in Cambodia and left in Nepal—as well as varying speed limits and traffic signal norms. Explore these driving contrasts to enhance your road safety experience abroad.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| 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 |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cambodia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
cambodia:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
nepal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | 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
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
cambodia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 100 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
nepal:
100
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay