Driving Differences: Estonia vs. Malaysia Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices between Estonia and Malaysia. From the distinct driving sides—right in Estonia and left in Malaysia—to speed limits and emergency protocols, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad. Stay informed and drive with confidence wherever your travels may take you!
Lanes
| Estonia | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
estonia:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | 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 | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
malaysia:
N/A
Signals
| Estonia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
malaysia:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Estonia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Estonia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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 | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay