Driving in the Philippines vs Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
Explore the contrasting road regulations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, two nations with unique driving cultures. Key distinctions include bus lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol restrictions. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and smooth travel experience when navigating unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
philippines:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
philippines:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 kph | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 kph | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 100 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Less common; fines are usually issued later | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
philippines:
40 kph
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
philippines:
20 kph
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
80 kph
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
philippines:
70 kph
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
50 kph
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
100 kph
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
philippines:
80 kph
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
80 kph
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Speed Units
philippines:
kph
saudi arabia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Filipino; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
philippines:
Not used
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Insurance
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
saudi arabia:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment | 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
philippines:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
philippines:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
philippines:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AAA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
philippines:
911
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
philippines:
117
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Philippines | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | PHP 300 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | PHP 1000 | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
philippines:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
philippines:
PHP 300
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
philippines:
PHP 1000
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay