Indonesia vs Portugal: Key Driving Differences Explained
When exploring the diverse road regulations of Indonesia and Portugal, significant contrasts emerge. From driving sides—left in Indonesia versus right in Portugal—to varied speed limits and lane usage, understanding these nuances is essential for safe navigation. This guide highlights the crucial distinctions that every traveler should be aware of to ensure a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled 'BUS'; 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
portugal:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
portugal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
portugal:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
portugal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 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 |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 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 | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be 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
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| 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
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay