Driving in Egypt vs. Singapore: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the distinctive driving rules between Egypt and Singapore reveals significant contrasts that are crucial for ensuring safety on foreign roads. While Egypt drives on the right with variable speed limits, Singapore adheres to left-side navigation and employs electronic speed indicators. Understanding these unique regulations can greatly enhance your travel experience and road awareness.
Lanes
| Egypt | 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: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
singapore:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
singapore:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
egypt:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
egypt:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Egypt | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Singapore |
| 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 | 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
singapore:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
singapore:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
singapore:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
singapore:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
singapore:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
singapore:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
singapore:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Egypt | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
singapore:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| 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 |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
egypt:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
singapore:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
singapore:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
singapore:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
egypt:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| 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 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay