Driving in Indonesia vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, drivers encounter notable variances that impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol regulations and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure journey. Prepare to explore how driving customs differ in these two diverse nations.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
indonesia:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 993 |
| 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
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
saudi arabia:
993
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay