Driving in India vs. Philippines: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads in India and the Philippines, understanding the unique traffic norms and regulations is vital for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and the use of bus and cycle lanes. Explore these crucial contrasts to enhance your travel experience and drive safely abroad.
Lanes
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| 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 PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
india:
Left
philippines:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
philippines:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
philippines:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
india:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
india:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
philippines:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used |
| 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 | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
philippines:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
philippines:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
philippines:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| 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 | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
philippines:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
india:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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 | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
philippines:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
philippines:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
philippines:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
philippines:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
philippines:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance