Driving Differences: Indonesia vs Singapore Insights
Explore the intriguing contrasts in driving regulations between Indonesia and Singapore. From lane usage to speed limits, the distinctions are significant. While Singapore enforces strict traffic controls, Indonesia allows more flexibility. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring road safety and navigating each country’s unique driving landscape effectively.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
singapore:
Not allowed.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
singapore:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Display not required |
| 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
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
indonesia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
indonesia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| 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
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay