Driving in Cambodia vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Explained
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations and driving customs between Cambodia and Sri Lanka. From the distinct sides of the road each country adheres to, to their unique speed limits and lane usages, understanding these variations is crucial for safe travel. Equip yourself with vital knowledge to navigate these diverse driving landscapes effectively.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other 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 | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
sri lanka:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
cambodia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 119 or contact local police |
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay