Driving in Bolivia vs. Malaysia: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Bolivia and Malaysia as we delve into their key distinctions. From varying lane regulations and speed limits to unique traffic signals and enforcement practices, this comparison sheds light on essential aspects for ensuring road safety while navigating these diverse countries. Stay informed and drive securely abroad!
Lanes
| Bolivia | 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
bolivia:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bolivia:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
malaysia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Malaysia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
malaysia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
malaysia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | 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 inspection required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay