Driving in Cambodia vs. Philippines: Key Safety Differences
Cambodia and the Philippines present unique driving environments that highlight notable distinctions in road etiquette, speed regulations, and vehicle requirements. This comparison unveils essential insights, such as the bus lane presence in the Philippines and the strict alcohol limits enforced in Cambodia, ensuring travelers remain informed for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
philippines:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
cambodia:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
cambodia:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
philippines:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance