Driving in France vs. Indonesia: Key Differences Uncovered
When comparing the road regulations of France and Indonesia, distinct variations emerge that impact safety and driving practices. From lane usage and speed limits to signaling and penalties, understanding these contrasts is essential for a secure experience abroad. Discover how these two countries navigate their unique roadways and enhance your travel preparedness.
Lanes
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
france:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
indonesia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Indonesia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
indonesia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
indonesia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
indonesia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies by region; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
indonesia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | 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
france:
112
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| France | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days