Driving in Costa Rica vs. Indonesia: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Costa Rica and Indonesia, travelers will encounter distinct variations in traffic regulations and driving customs. From lane usage and speed limits to emergency protocols, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure journey. Delve into the nuances that set these countries apart and enhance your international driving experience.
Lanes
| Costa rica | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
indonesia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
indonesia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
indonesia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Costa rica | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Indonesia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
indonesia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Costa rica | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | 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 required | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | 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
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Varies by region; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | 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
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days