Cambodia Category B Driving Test cheat sheet

The Land Traffic Law (2007) is the primary statute governing road use in Cambodia; it sets speed limits, licensing classes, and penalty schedules enforced by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the National Police.

Default speed limits: 40 km/h in urban areas and built-up zones, 80 km/h on rural roads outside built-up areas, and 100 km/h on highways unless a posted sign sets a lower limit.

Motorcycles of 125 cc and below may be ridden from age 16 with an A1 licence; larger motorcycles require an A2 licence at 18 or older, and cars require a B licence at 18 or older.

Cambodia drives on the right-hand side of the road; overtaking is performed on the left, and a driver being overtaken must keep right and must not accelerate.

A safety helmet is mandatory for the rider and any passenger on a motorcycle or three-wheeled vehicle; failure to wear one is a punishable offence.

Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and all occupants of a car where belts are fitted; children must not ride unrestrained in the front passenger seat.

Vehicle registration, technical inspection (roadworthiness) and compulsory insurance are legal conditions for lawful use of a vehicle on public roads.

Penalties escalate with repeat offences: fines are set in riel under the Land Traffic Law, and serious violations such as driving without a licence or fleeing an accident scene can lead to licence suspension or court action.

Red circular signs with a white field are prohibitions (no entry, no overtaking, speed limit); blue circular signs are mandatory instructions (turn direction, minimum speed, helmet or path requirements).

Red triangular signs with a white field warn of hazards ahead (bend, junction, pedestrian crossing, narrowing road); they do not themselves impose a speed limit but require reduced speed.

Rectangular blue or green signs give information: direction, place names, distances, and facility locations; they carry no prohibition.

A flashing red traffic light means stop and proceed only when safe, equivalent to a stop sign; a flashing amber light means proceed with caution and give way as required.

A steady red light means stop before the stop line or crossing; a green light permits movement but does not override the duty to give way to pedestrians already crossing.

Solid white centre lines prohibit crossing or overtaking; broken white lines permit crossing when it is safe and the manoeuvre is legal.

A yellow line along the kerb generally marks a stopping or parking prohibition; double solid lines at the centre indicate no crossing in either direction.

A police officer's signals override traffic lights and signs; when an officer directs traffic, obey the officer's hand and arm signals.

Two-second rule: maintain at least two seconds of gap behind the vehicle ahead in dry conditions; double it to four seconds in rain, at night, or when following a motorcycle or heavy truck.

Stopping distance = thinking distance (reaction time × speed) + braking distance; braking distance rises with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance.

At 80 km/h a vehicle covers about 22 metres per second; a 1.5-second reaction alone therefore consumes roughly 33 metres before braking begins.

The see-and-be-seen principle: use dipped headlights in rain, dusk, and at night, and position the vehicle so it is visible in other drivers' mirrors rather than in their blind spots.

Avoid the blind spots of trucks and buses: if you cannot see the driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you; never overtake a turning heavy vehicle on its inside.

In monsoon rain, standing water causes aquaplaning and loss of steering; ease off the accelerator, hold the wheel steady, and avoid sudden braking until grip returns.

Scan 12–15 seconds ahead of the vehicle and check mirrors every 5–8 seconds so hazards are identified before they become emergencies.

Fatigue impairs reaction time comparably to alcohol; a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours of driving is the standard countermeasure for long journeys.

Steering: hold the wheel at roughly 9 and 3 o'clock and use push-pull steering; do not cross the arms, which limits control during sudden corrections.

Braking: apply progressive pressure and release just before a full stop to avoid a jolt; on a motorcycle, use both brakes together with more force on the front brake.

Clutch and gears: the clutch is used only to start, change gear, and stop; coasting in neutral or with the clutch held down reduces control and is not permitted in a test.

Mirrors and blind spot: signal, check mirrors, check the blind spot over the shoulder, then move; the sequence is mirror–signal–manoeuvre.

Hill starts: use the handbrake to hold the vehicle, bring the clutch to the biting point, add power, then release the handbrake smoothly to avoid rolling back.

Cornering: slow before the bend, hold a steady speed through it, and accelerate gently on exit; braking hard while turning reduces grip and can cause a skid.

Motorcycle balance: keep the head and eyes up and look through the turn; the motorcycle follows the direction of the rider's gaze, so target fixation on a hazard pulls the bike toward it.

Reversing: reverse slowly at walking pace, use mirrors and a look over the shoulder, and stop immediately if visibility is lost; a spotter should be used where available.

At an uncontrolled junction, give way to traffic approaching from the right unless signs, markings, or signals indicate otherwise.

At a T-junction, traffic on the through road has priority; a vehicle emerging from the stem of the T must give way to both directions of through traffic.

A vehicle turning across oncoming traffic must give way to that traffic; a right turn across the opposing lane is completed only when the way is clear.

At a roundabout, traffic already circulating has priority over vehicles entering; entering drivers give way to the left (to circulating traffic) and do not block the circulating lane.

At a pedestrian crossing, pedestrians on the crossing have absolute priority; a driver must stop before the crossing line and must not overtake a vehicle stopped at a crossing.

Emergency vehicles with sirens and flashing lights have priority; other drivers must slow, move left or right as needed, and clear the path without stopping in the junction.

When two vehicles arrive simultaneously at a four-way stop, the vehicle on the right proceeds first, then the next vehicle in clockwise order.

A vehicle entering a main road from a private driveway, petrol station, or field must give way to all traffic already on the main road.

Cambodia's legal blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers is 0.05 g/dL (50 mg per 100 mL of blood); exceeding it is an offence under the Land Traffic Law.

For drivers of commercial or public transport vehicles, professional drivers, and novice drivers, the limit is lower at 0.00 g/dL in practice; any detectable alcohol is grounds for prohibition.

Alcohol slows reaction time, narrows the field of vision, and increases confidence while reducing actual skill; effects begin below the legal limit.

The body metabolises roughly one standard drink per hour; coffee, cold water, or a shower do not speed this up, so the only reliable sober-up method is time.

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair driving; antihistamines, sedatives, and some cough preparations cause drowsiness, so read the label before driving.

Illegal drugs and driving are strictly prohibited; refusal to provide a breath or blood sample when requested by police is itself an offence.

Fitness to drive also covers illness, extreme fatigue, and eyesight: corrective lenses must be worn if the licence records a vision condition.

A driver who feels unwell, drowsy, or emotionally distressed should not drive; handing the wheel to a fit licensed driver is the safe alternative.

At an accident scene: stop, switch on hazard lights, place a warning triangle about 30–50 metres behind the vehicle on the road, and move casualties only if there is immediate danger such as fire.

Call the emergency services and police; in Cambodia the police emergency number is 117 and ambulance/fire services are reached on 119.

Do not move an injured person suspected of spinal injury unless their life is at risk; keep them still and warm until professional help arrives.

If a vehicle catches fire, stop, switch off the engine, evacuate everyone upwind, and do not open the bonnet fully, as the rush of air feeds the fire.

Brake failure: pump the brake pedal firmly, shift to a lower gear to use engine braking, and use the handbrake gradually; steer toward a safe escape route.

Tyre blowout: hold the wheel firmly with both hands, ease off the accelerator, avoid hard braking, and steer straight until the vehicle slows before pulling over.

Aquaplaning or skidding: ease off the accelerator, do not brake hard, and steer gently in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

After any accident involving injury or significant damage, exchange names, addresses, licence and insurance details, and report to police within the time required by law.

Weekly tyre check: measure tread depth (legal minimum 1.6 mm for cars), check for cuts and bulges, and set pressures to the manufacturer's cold-inflation figures.

Tyre pressure should be checked when tyres are cold; under-inflation increases fuel use and heat, and raises the risk of a blowout at speed.

Check engine oil with the vehicle on level ground and the engine off; the level should sit between the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick.

Check coolant only when the engine is cold; never open a hot radiator cap, as pressurised coolant can cause severe burns.

Brake fluid level drops as pads wear; a low level or a spongy pedal signals a fault that must be checked before driving.

Test all lights before a journey: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, hazard lights, and the horn; a failed bulb must be replaced.

Check wiper blades and washer fluid before the rainy season; worn blades smear the screen and reduce visibility in heavy monsoon rain.

A pre-drive walk-around check covers tyres, lights, mirrors, fluid leaks under the vehicle, and that no child or animal is behind or in front of the vehicle.

A Cambodian driving licence is issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport; classes include A1 (motorcycle ≤125 cc), A2 (motorcycle >125 cc), B (car up to 3.5 t), C (truck), and D/E for passenger and heavy combinations.

A learner must hold a valid learner permit while practising, be accompanied by a licensed driver, and display learner status; driving alone on a learner permit is an offence.

A foreign licence may be used for a limited period after arrival, after which it must be exchanged for a Cambodian licence; an International Driving Permit alone is not a substitute for a local licence beyond that period.

A driver must carry the driving licence, vehicle registration card, and proof of technical inspection and insurance, and produce them on police request.

Driving without a licence, with an expired licence, or outside the licensed class carries a fine and can result in vehicle impoundment.

Penalties for drink-driving escalate with the blood alcohol level and can include fines, licence suspension, and imprisonment where injury or death results.

Demerit and penalty systems apply to repeat offenders; accumulation of serious offences can lead to suspension or cancellation of the licence.

Vehicle registration must be renewed annually and the vehicle must pass periodic technical inspection; driving an unregistered or uninspected vehicle is an offence.

The Land Traffic Law (2007) is the primary statute governing road use in Cambodia; it sets speed limits, licensing classes, and penalty schedules enforced by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the National Police.

Default speed limits: 40 km/h in urban areas and built-up zones, 80 km/h on rural roads outside built-up areas, and 100 km/h on highways unless a posted sign sets a lower limit.

Motorcycles of 125 cc and below may be ridden from age 16 with an A1 licence; larger motorcycles require an A2 licence at 18 or older, and cars require a B licence at 18 or older.

Cambodia drives on the right-hand side of the road; overtaking is performed on the left, and a driver being overtaken must keep right and must not accelerate.

A safety helmet is mandatory for the rider and any passenger on a motorcycle or three-wheeled vehicle; failure to wear one is a punishable offence.

Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and all occupants of a car where belts are fitted; children must not ride unrestrained in the front passenger seat.

Vehicle registration, technical inspection (roadworthiness) and compulsory insurance are legal conditions for lawful use of a vehicle on public roads.

Penalties escalate with repeat offences: fines are set in riel under the Land Traffic Law, and serious violations such as driving without a licence or fleeing an accident scene can lead to licence suspension or court action.

Red circular signs with a white field are prohibitions (no entry, no overtaking, speed limit); blue circular signs are mandatory instructions (turn direction, minimum speed, helmet or path requirements).

Red triangular signs with a white field warn of hazards ahead (bend, junction, pedestrian crossing, narrowing road); they do not themselves impose a speed limit but require reduced speed.

Rectangular blue or green signs give information: direction, place names, distances, and facility locations; they carry no prohibition.

A flashing red traffic light means stop and proceed only when safe, equivalent to a stop sign; a flashing amber light means proceed with caution and give way as required.

A steady red light means stop before the stop line or crossing; a green light permits movement but does not override the duty to give way to pedestrians already crossing.

Solid white centre lines prohibit crossing or overtaking; broken white lines permit crossing when it is safe and the manoeuvre is legal.

A yellow line along the kerb generally marks a stopping or parking prohibition; double solid lines at the centre indicate no crossing in either direction.

A police officer's signals override traffic lights and signs; when an officer directs traffic, obey the officer's hand and arm signals.

Two-second rule: maintain at least two seconds of gap behind the vehicle ahead in dry conditions; double it to four seconds in rain, at night, or when following a motorcycle or heavy truck.

Stopping distance = thinking distance (reaction time × speed) + braking distance; braking distance rises with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance.

At 80 km/h a vehicle covers about 22 metres per second; a 1.5-second reaction alone therefore consumes roughly 33 metres before braking begins.

The see-and-be-seen principle: use dipped headlights in rain, dusk, and at night, and position the vehicle so it is visible in other drivers' mirrors rather than in their blind spots.

Avoid the blind spots of trucks and buses: if you cannot see the driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you; never overtake a turning heavy vehicle on its inside.

In monsoon rain, standing water causes aquaplaning and loss of steering; ease off the accelerator, hold the wheel steady, and avoid sudden braking until grip returns.

Scan 12–15 seconds ahead of the vehicle and check mirrors every 5–8 seconds so hazards are identified before they become emergencies.

Fatigue impairs reaction time comparably to alcohol; a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours of driving is the standard countermeasure for long journeys.

Steering: hold the wheel at roughly 9 and 3 o'clock and use push-pull steering; do not cross the arms, which limits control during sudden corrections.

Braking: apply progressive pressure and release just before a full stop to avoid a jolt; on a motorcycle, use both brakes together with more force on the front brake.

Clutch and gears: the clutch is used only to start, change gear, and stop; coasting in neutral or with the clutch held down reduces control and is not permitted in a test.

Mirrors and blind spot: signal, check mirrors, check the blind spot over the shoulder, then move; the sequence is mirror–signal–manoeuvre.

Hill starts: use the handbrake to hold the vehicle, bring the clutch to the biting point, add power, then release the handbrake smoothly to avoid rolling back.

Cornering: slow before the bend, hold a steady speed through it, and accelerate gently on exit; braking hard while turning reduces grip and can cause a skid.

Motorcycle balance: keep the head and eyes up and look through the turn; the motorcycle follows the direction of the rider's gaze, so target fixation on a hazard pulls the bike toward it.

Reversing: reverse slowly at walking pace, use mirrors and a look over the shoulder, and stop immediately if visibility is lost; a spotter should be used where available.

At an uncontrolled junction, give way to traffic approaching from the right unless signs, markings, or signals indicate otherwise.

At a T-junction, traffic on the through road has priority; a vehicle emerging from the stem of the T must give way to both directions of through traffic.

A vehicle turning across oncoming traffic must give way to that traffic; a right turn across the opposing lane is completed only when the way is clear.

At a roundabout, traffic already circulating has priority over vehicles entering; entering drivers give way to the left (to circulating traffic) and do not block the circulating lane.

At a pedestrian crossing, pedestrians on the crossing have absolute priority; a driver must stop before the crossing line and must not overtake a vehicle stopped at a crossing.

Emergency vehicles with sirens and flashing lights have priority; other drivers must slow, move left or right as needed, and clear the path without stopping in the junction.

When two vehicles arrive simultaneously at a four-way stop, the vehicle on the right proceeds first, then the next vehicle in clockwise order.

A vehicle entering a main road from a private driveway, petrol station, or field must give way to all traffic already on the main road.

Cambodia's legal blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers is 0.05 g/dL (50 mg per 100 mL of blood); exceeding it is an offence under the Land Traffic Law.

For drivers of commercial or public transport vehicles, professional drivers, and novice drivers, the limit is lower at 0.00 g/dL in practice; any detectable alcohol is grounds for prohibition.

Alcohol slows reaction time, narrows the field of vision, and increases confidence while reducing actual skill; effects begin below the legal limit.

The body metabolises roughly one standard drink per hour; coffee, cold water, or a shower do not speed this up, so the only reliable sober-up method is time.

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair driving; antihistamines, sedatives, and some cough preparations cause drowsiness, so read the label before driving.

Illegal drugs and driving are strictly prohibited; refusal to provide a breath or blood sample when requested by police is itself an offence.

Fitness to drive also covers illness, extreme fatigue, and eyesight: corrective lenses must be worn if the licence records a vision condition.

A driver who feels unwell, drowsy, or emotionally distressed should not drive; handing the wheel to a fit licensed driver is the safe alternative.

At an accident scene: stop, switch on hazard lights, place a warning triangle about 30–50 metres behind the vehicle on the road, and move casualties only if there is immediate danger such as fire.

Call the emergency services and police; in Cambodia the police emergency number is 117 and ambulance/fire services are reached on 119.

Do not move an injured person suspected of spinal injury unless their life is at risk; keep them still and warm until professional help arrives.

If a vehicle catches fire, stop, switch off the engine, evacuate everyone upwind, and do not open the bonnet fully, as the rush of air feeds the fire.

Brake failure: pump the brake pedal firmly, shift to a lower gear to use engine braking, and use the handbrake gradually; steer toward a safe escape route.

Tyre blowout: hold the wheel firmly with both hands, ease off the accelerator, avoid hard braking, and steer straight until the vehicle slows before pulling over.

Aquaplaning or skidding: ease off the accelerator, do not brake hard, and steer gently in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

After any accident involving injury or significant damage, exchange names, addresses, licence and insurance details, and report to police within the time required by law.

Weekly tyre check: measure tread depth (legal minimum 1.6 mm for cars), check for cuts and bulges, and set pressures to the manufacturer's cold-inflation figures.

Tyre pressure should be checked when tyres are cold; under-inflation increases fuel use and heat, and raises the risk of a blowout at speed.

Check engine oil with the vehicle on level ground and the engine off; the level should sit between the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick.

Check coolant only when the engine is cold; never open a hot radiator cap, as pressurised coolant can cause severe burns.

Brake fluid level drops as pads wear; a low level or a spongy pedal signals a fault that must be checked before driving.

Test all lights before a journey: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, hazard lights, and the horn; a failed bulb must be replaced.

Check wiper blades and washer fluid before the rainy season; worn blades smear the screen and reduce visibility in heavy monsoon rain.

A pre-drive walk-around check covers tyres, lights, mirrors, fluid leaks under the vehicle, and that no child or animal is behind or in front of the vehicle.

A Cambodian driving licence is issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport; classes include A1 (motorcycle ≤125 cc), A2 (motorcycle >125 cc), B (car up to 3.5 t), C (truck), and D/E for passenger and heavy combinations.

A learner must hold a valid learner permit while practising, be accompanied by a licensed driver, and display learner status; driving alone on a learner permit is an offence.

A foreign licence may be used for a limited period after arrival, after which it must be exchanged for a Cambodian licence; an International Driving Permit alone is not a substitute for a local licence beyond that period.

A driver must carry the driving licence, vehicle registration card, and proof of technical inspection and insurance, and produce them on police request.

Driving without a licence, with an expired licence, or outside the licensed class carries a fine and can result in vehicle impoundment.

Penalties for drink-driving escalate with the blood alcohol level and can include fines, licence suspension, and imprisonment where injury or death results.

Demerit and penalty systems apply to repeat offenders; accumulation of serious offences can lead to suspension or cancellation of the licence.

Vehicle registration must be renewed annually and the vehicle must pass periodic technical inspection; driving an unregistered or uninspected vehicle is an offence.