Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Do not even consider hiring a motorcycle if you are daft enough to be travelling in Cambodia without
medical insurance. The cost of treating serious injuries, especially if you require an evacuation, is bankrupt-
ing for budget travellers.
Road Conditions & Hazards
Whether travelling or living in Cambodia, it is easy to lull yourself into a false sense of security and assume
that down every rural road is yet another friendly village. However, even with the demise of the Khmer
Rouge, odd incidents of banditry and robbery do occur in rural areas. There have also been some nasty bike-
jackings in Sihanoukville. When travelling in your own vehicle, and particularly by motorcycle in rural
areas, make certain you check the latest security information in communities along the way.
Be particularly careful about children on the road - you'll sometimes find kids hanging out in the middle
of a highway. Livestock on the road is also a menace; hit a cow and you'll both be pizza.
Other general security suggestions for those travelling by motorcycle:
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Try to get hold of a good-quality helmet for long journeys or high-speed riding.
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Carry a basic repair kit, including some tyre levers, a puncture-repair kit and a pump.
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Always carry a rope for towing on longer journeys in case you break down.
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In remote areas always carry several litres of water, as you never know when you will run out.
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Travel in small groups, not alone.
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When in a group, stay close together in case of any incident or accident.
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Don't be cheap with the petrol - running out of fuel in a rural area could jeopardise your health, especially
if water runs out too.
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Do not smoke marijuana or drink alcohol and drive.
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Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the road; Cambodian potholes eat people for fun.
Road Rules
If there are road rules in Cambodia it is doubtful that anyone is following them. Size matters and the biggest
vehicle wins by default. The best advice if you drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Cambodia is to take noth-
ing for granted.
In Cambodia traffic drives on the right. There are some traffic lights at junctions in Phnom Penh, Siem
Reap and Sihanoukville, but where there are no lights, most traffic turns left into the oncoming traffic,
edging along the wrong side of the road until a gap becomes apparent. For the uninitiated it looks like a dis-
aster waiting to happen, but Cambodians are quite used to the system. Foreigners should stop at crossings
and develop a habit of constant vigilance. Never assume that other drivers will stop at red lights; these are
considered optional by most Cambodians, especially at night.
