Driving Differences: Afghanistan vs. Malaysia Safety Tips
When navigating the roads of Afghanistan and Malaysia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. Key differences include driving on opposite sides of the road and varied speed limits, highlighting the importance of understanding local traffic norms for a safer journey abroad. Embrace the unique driving landscapes of these two nations!
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
afghanistan:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
afghanistan:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
malaysia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
afghanistan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay