Driving Differences: France vs. Malaysia Uncovered
When exploring the roads of France and Malaysia, drivers encounter distinct rules and practices that influence their experience behind the wheel. Key differences include driving on the right in France versus the left in Malaysia, varied speed limits, and unique road markings. Understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring your journey is both enjoyable and secure.
Lanes
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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
france:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
france:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Malaysia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
malaysia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | 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 | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | 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; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
malaysia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
france:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay