Driving Differences: Indonesia vs. Philippines Explained
Discover the unique roadway dynamics of Indonesia and the Philippines as we explore their driving regulations and habits. With contrasting rules on lane usage, speed limits, and vehicle documentation, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in either nation. Prepare to navigate the roads with confidence!
Lanes
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| 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 PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, 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
indonesia:
Left
philippines:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
philippines:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
indonesia:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Indonesia | 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 required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
indonesia:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance