Driving in France vs. Singapore: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of France and Singapore, understanding their unique driving regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions emerge, such as driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and the use of bus lanes. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances will enhance your overall safety and comfort while exploring these diverse countries.
Lanes
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| 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 Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
france:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
singapore:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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 | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Singapore |
| 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 | 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
singapore:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
singapore:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | 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 | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
france:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
france:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Roundabouts
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
singapore:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| 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 AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay