Driving Differences: Indonesia vs. Kuwait Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Indonesia and Kuwait, two countries with distinct driving cultures. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol enforcement, this comparison highlights key disparities essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Understanding these variations will empower travelers to navigate safely and confidently on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not commonly practiced. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
kuwait:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
kuwait:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
kuwait:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
kuwait:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
kuwait:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
kuwait:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
kuwait:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 45-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 45 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
kuwait:
45 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
kuwait:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
kuwait:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
kuwait:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
kuwait:
Yes
Signals
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
kuwait:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Prohibited unless signs allow |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Significant fines and legal consequences |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
kuwait:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
kuwait:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
Enforcement: Imprisonment
indonesia:
Possible for severe offenses
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
kuwait:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
kuwait:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; may include points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Very severe penalties for any alcohol |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Yes, possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
kuwait:
Yes, possible
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days