Driving Differences: Estonia vs. Singapore Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in driving regulations between Estonia and Singapore, where distinct road rules shape the experience behind the wheel. From lane usage to speed limits, each country presents unique guidelines that ensure safety on their respective roads. Understanding these nuances is essential for any traveler navigating unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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) | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Estonia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
singapore:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
singapore:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Estonia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
estonia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
estonia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay