Driving in Cambodia vs. Switzerland: Key Safety Differences
Discover the contrasts in driving regulations between Cambodia and Switzerland, two nations with distinct road etiquette and safety practices. While Cambodia emphasizes flexibility with lane markings and speed limits, Switzerland prioritizes structured rules and stringent enforcement. This comparison will highlight crucial aspects like speed limits, traffic signals, and legal requirements, ensuring a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cambodia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
switzerland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 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 | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
switzerland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
cambodia:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
cambodia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
cambodia:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
switzerland:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | CHF 100 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
switzerland:
CHF 100
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay