Belize vs. Malaysia: Key Driving Differences Uncovered
When venturing into Belize or Malaysia, understanding the unique driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Notable differences include driving sides—right in Belize versus left in Malaysia—and varying speed limits across urban and rural areas. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions will enhance your driving experience and promote road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Belize | 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. |
| 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
belize:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belize:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
belize:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belize:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
belize:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belize:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belize:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | 80-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
malaysia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Speed Units
belize:
mph
malaysia:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Belize | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belize:
Not used in Belize
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Belize | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belize | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belize | 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
belize:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belize | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belize:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belize:
Zero tolerance
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
belize:
Varies; can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Belize | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
belize:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belize | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local 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
belize:
911
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
Common Fines: Speeding
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations