Driving in Cambodia vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Explore the driving landscape of Cambodia and Thailand as we uncover essential contrasts that influence road safety. From unique lane usage regulations to varying speed limits and traffic signal protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for a secure journey. Whether navigating busy cities or rural roads, being informed enhances your travel experience in these vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
cambodia:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
cambodia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days