Driving in Australia vs. Malaysia: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roadways of Australia and Malaysia, it's essential to understand their distinct regulations and practices. Key contrasts include lane markings, speed limits, and overtaking rules, which can significantly impact your travel experience. Familiarizing yourself with these variations ensures a safer journey in both countries.
Lanes
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
australia:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 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 | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
malaysia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Malaysia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
malaysia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
malaysia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 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
australia:
000
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay