Driving Differences: Indonesia vs. Qatar Explained
When exploring the roads of Indonesia and Qatar, drivers must navigate distinct regulations and norms that can significantly impact their travel experience. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Indonesia versus the right in Qatar, as well as differing speed limits and alcohol regulations. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
qatar:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
qatar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
qatar:
Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
qatar:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
qatar:
Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
qatar:
Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
qatar:
Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
qatar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
qatar:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 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: 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
qatar:
60-80 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
qatar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
qatar:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
qatar:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
qatar:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
qatar:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
qatar:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
qatar:
Yes
Signals
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Qatar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
qatar:
Not used in Qatar
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
qatar:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
qatar:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
qatar:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
qatar:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
qatar:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
qatar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
qatar:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
qatar:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
qatar:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
qatar:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Can be substantial; penalties are severe |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
qatar:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
qatar:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
qatar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
qatar:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
qatar:
Can be substantial; penalties are severe
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 999 or local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or contact private services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
qatar:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
qatar:
999 or local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
qatar:
Check with your insurance provider or contact private services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
qatar:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
qatar:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; can be substantial, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Minimum 500 QR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Minimum 500 QR, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Yes, or online payment options |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
qatar:
Varies; can be substantial, point system applies
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
qatar:
Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR, point system applies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
qatar:
Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
qatar:
Yes, or online payment options
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
qatar:
Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties