Driving Differences: Canada vs Singapore Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads, Canada and Singapore present intriguing contrasts. From driving sides—right in Canada versus left in Singapore—to speed limits and lane usage, understanding these variations is essential for safe travel. This guide will delve into the significant distinctions, ensuring that your international journey remains secure and informed.
Lanes
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
singapore:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
singapore:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 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 | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
singapore:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
canada:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
canada:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay