Driving in Austria vs. Malaysia: A Safety Comparison
Embarking on a journey through Austria or Malaysia? Understanding the nuances in roadway regulations is crucial for a safe and enjoyable experience. From driving on different sides of the road to varying speed limits, this comparison highlights essential contrasts that every traveler should be aware of to maintain safety abroad.
Lanes
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
austria:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
austria:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
austria:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 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 | 70-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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; fines may also be mailed. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Malaysia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
austria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay