Driving in Colombia vs. Singapore: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the driving landscapes of Colombia and Singapore reveals intriguing contrasts. From road etiquette and speed regulations to lane usage and emergency protocols, each country embodies unique approaches to vehicular navigation. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth experience on the roads abroad.
Lanes
| Colombia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
colombia:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
colombia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Colombia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Colombia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Colombia | 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
colombia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
colombia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 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; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | 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
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay