Driving in Bahrain vs. Malaysia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the diverse roads of Bahrain and Malaysia, understanding the unique driving regulations can significantly enhance your travel experience. Key contrasts include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and distinct rules for overtaking and signaling. Familiarizing yourself with these crucial aspects promotes not only your safety but also that of others on the road.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
bahrain:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bahrain:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
malaysia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahrain:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
malaysia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 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 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahrain:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
malaysia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Malaysia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
malaysia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
malaysia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
malaysia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
malaysia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn 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
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
malaysia:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahrain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay