Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Papua New Guinea

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Papua New Guinea — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

left

Driving Side

steering wheel on the right

0.08

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

—

Motorway Limit

no motorway class

recommended

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

60 km/h

Rural / Open Road

80 km/h

Motorway / Highway

—

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Papua New Guinea

General limit: 0.08 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Papua New Guinea can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Papua New Guinea on the Live Map

Papua New Guinea has a WHO-estimated 14.2 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Papua New Guinea.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Papua New Guinea's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Micronesia Solomon Islands Palau Timor-Leste Australia Nauru

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Papua New Guinea drive on?

Papua New Guinea drives on the left-hand side of the road (like the UK, Japan and Australia).

What is the drink-driving limit in Papua New Guinea?

The general limit is 0.08 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Papua New Guinea?

An IDP is recommended rather than strictly required for most visitors to Papua New Guinea — but rental companies and police may still ask for one, and it is cheap insurance.

Is it safe to drive in Papua New Guinea?

By the numbers, Papua New Guinea has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 14.2 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is close to the global average — it ranks 92 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the left, which takes getting used to if you normally drive on the right. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.