Driving in Indonesia vs. Norway: Key Differences Explained
Welcome to our in-depth comparison of driving regulations between Indonesia and Norway. While both countries prioritize road safety, significant contrasts emerge in lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol restrictions. Understanding these driving norms is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience on the roads of each nation.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
indonesia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
norway:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| 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
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay