Driving in Colombia vs. Indonesia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Colombia and Indonesia, drivers encounter distinct regulations that shape their travel experiences. Key contrasts include driving on the right versus left side and varying speed limits in urban and rural settings. Understanding these essential differences is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in each nation.
Lanes
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
colombia:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in Indonesia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by region; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
indonesia:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days