Driving in Cambodia vs. United Kingdom: Key Differences
When comparing driving practices in Cambodia and the United Kingdom, notable distinctions emerge that are crucial for ensuring a secure journey. With Cambodia driving on the right and the UK on the left, lane usage, speed limits, and signaling vary significantly. Understanding these variances is essential for safe navigation in each country.
Lanes
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| 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, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
| 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
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
cambodia:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
cambodia:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cambodia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
cambodia:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
united kingdom:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
cambodia:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
united kingdom:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cambodia:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
cambodia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
cambodia:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
united kingdom:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| 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; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Substantial fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
united kingdom:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
cambodia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
cambodia:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay