Driving Differences: Egypt vs Malaysia for Safe Roads
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Egypt and Malaysia with our in-depth comparison. Key distinctions include the driving side—right in Egypt versus left in Malaysia—and varied speed limits in urban areas. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring road safety and navigating effectively while traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Egypt | 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
egypt:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
egypt:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
malaysia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
malaysia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
malaysia:
30 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Malaysia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
malaysia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
malaysia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
malaysia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
malaysia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
malaysia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
malaysia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
malaysia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 | Mandatory annual inspection | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
malaysia:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
malaysia:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
malaysia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
malaysia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
malaysia:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
egypt:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay