Driving in Croatia vs. Malaysia: Key Differences Explained
Driving in Croatia and Malaysia presents unique challenges and regulations. Key distinctions include the side of the road, speed limits, and overtaking rules. While Croatia mandates driving on the right with stricter alcohol limits, Malaysia allows for a left-side approach and higher alcohol tolerance. Understanding these nuances is essential for safe travel in both countries.
Lanes
| Croatia | 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 | Not commonly practiced. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
croatia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
croatia:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
croatia:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Signals
| Croatia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Malaysia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Documentation
| Croatia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
croatia:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Croatia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
croatia:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay