Driving in Egypt vs. Indonesia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Egypt and Indonesia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their motoring experiences. Key differences include the side of the road used—right in Egypt and left in Indonesia—along with varied speed limits and lane usages. Understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure journey in these diverse environments.
Lanes
| Egypt | 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
egypt:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
indonesia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
indonesia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Egypt | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Indonesia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
indonesia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
indonesia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
indonesia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
indonesia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
indonesia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
indonesia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Egypt | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Egypt | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
indonesia:
Valid driver's license required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Give way and make room |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
indonesia:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
indonesia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
indonesia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Egypt | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies by region; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
indonesia:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days