Driving Differences: El Salvador vs. Malaysia Explained
When exploring the roads of El Salvador and Malaysia, understanding the nuances of their driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in El Salvador versus the left in Malaysia, differing speed limits, and unique overtaking rules. Prepare yourself for these variations to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience abroad.
Lanes
| El salvador | 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: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
el salvador:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
malaysia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Malaysia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay