Driving in Indonesia vs North Macedonia: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Indonesia and North Macedonia, it's essential to understand the distinct driving regulations and practices that govern each country. From lane usage to speed limits, these nations exhibit notable contrasts. For instance, while Indonesia drives on the left, North Macedonia adheres to the right. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can significantly enhance your travel experience and ensure your journey remains secure.
Lanes
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 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
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
indonesia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
indonesia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
indonesia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
indonesia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Turns
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
indonesia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay