Driving in Cambodia vs. Singapore: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Cambodia and Singapore, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journey. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and bus lane usage. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and pleasant experience while navigating through these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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. |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
cambodia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
cambodia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay