Driving in Cambodia vs. Portugal: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road rules of Cambodia and Portugal, it's clear that driving customs vary significantly. Key distinctions include overtaking regulations, speed limits, and required documentation. While Cambodia allows right overtaking, Portugal prohibits it, showcasing diverse approaches to road safety and traffic management in these two countries.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
portugal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
portugal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay