Driving in Indonesia vs. Spain: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Indonesia and Spain, distinct contrasts emerge, particularly in lane usage and speed restrictions. While Indonesia drives on the left with limited cycle lanes, Spain adheres to right-side driving and boasts numerous designated bus lanes. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey in each nation.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| 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' or 'TAXI'; 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
spain:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
spain:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
spain:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 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 | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
spain:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| 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
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay