Driving Differences: India vs. Indonesia Explained
When exploring the roads of India and Indonesia, it's vital to understand the distinct driving customs and regulations that shape the journey. From lane usage to speed limits and penalties, these nations present unique challenges. This comparison highlights key variations, ensuring you navigate safely and confidently while abroad.
Lanes
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
indonesia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
indonesia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 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 |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
indonesia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Indonesia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; 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
india:
Not used in India
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
indonesia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
indonesia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
indonesia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
indonesia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
indonesia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines 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
india:
0.03%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
indonesia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
indonesia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| India | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days