Driving in Brunei vs. Canada: Key Differences Explained
When traversing the roads of Brunei and Canada, drivers encounter notable contrasts that significantly impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and alcohol regulations, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Let’s delve into the essential driving nuances between these two nations to promote safety and awareness on the road.
Lanes
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
brunei:
Left
canada:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brunei:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
brunei:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
brunei:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brunei:
Use leftmost lane.
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
canada:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
canada:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
canada:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brunei:
N/A
canada:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, but varies by province |
Urban Areas: Standard
brunei:
50 km/h
canada:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
70-80 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brunei:
70-80 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
70-80 km/h
canada:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
100 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brunei:
100 km/h
canada:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
80-100 km/h
canada:
90-110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
canada:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brunei:
Yes
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
Signals
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brunei | Not used in Canada |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay; English used for important signs | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brunei:
Not used in Brunei
canada:
Not used in Canada
Traffic Signs: Language
brunei:
Malay; English used for important signs
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
Turns
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by province and locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
brunei:
Not allowed
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
U- Turns Allowed
brunei:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Mandatory liability insurance |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually required | Varies by province; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not used | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
brunei:
Liability insurance mandatory
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brunei:
Annually required
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brunei:
Not used
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brunei:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%, zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by province; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
canada:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
canada:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brunei:
0.00%; zero tolerance
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brunei:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
brunei:
Varies; can be substantial
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brunei:
Signal left when preparing to exit
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 991 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | Depends on province; often 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or CAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brunei:
991
canada:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brunei:
993
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brunei:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brunei | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | B$150 | Varies; often upwards of $200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | B$300 | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | B$250 | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brunei:
Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brunei:
B$150
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
Common Fines: Phone Use
brunei:
B$300
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brunei:
B$250
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brunei:
Yes
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
brunei:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay