Driving in Albania vs. Malaysia: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Albania and Malaysia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their journey. Key contrasts include driving sides—right in Albania versus left in Malaysia—and varying speed limits in urban settings. Understanding these vital distinctions ensures a safer and more enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
albania:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
albania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
albania:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
albania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
albania:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
albania:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
albania:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
albania:
N/A
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
albania:
N/A
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
albania:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be paid at the scene. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
albania:
70 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
70 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
albania:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
albania:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
albania:
Mandatory; proof required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
malaysia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
albania:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
albania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
albania:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
albania:
Check with your insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay