Driving in Indonesia vs. Madagascar: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Indonesia and Madagascar, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that are crucial for a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Indonesia versus the right in Madagascar, as well as varying speed limits and lane usage. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring road safety while traveling in these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
madagascar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
madagascar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
indonesia:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
indonesia:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
indonesia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
indonesia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
indonesia:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
indonesia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
indonesia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
indonesia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
indonesia:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
indonesia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
indonesia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
indonesia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority