Driving in Indonesia vs. South Korea: Key Differences
Discover the distinctive road regulations and driving customs between Indonesia and South Korea. From lane usage to speed limits, significant contrasts shape the driving experience in these two nations. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad, whether navigating on the left in Indonesia or adhering to stricter rules in South Korea.
Lanes
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
south korea:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
south korea:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay