Driving Differences: Germany vs. Malaysia Explained
Driving in Germany and Malaysia presents distinct contrasts that every traveler should know. From lane regulations to speed limits and alcohol thresholds, these variations can impact safety on the roads. Understanding these crucial distinctions will help ensure a smoother and safer journey while navigating different traffic environments.
Lanes
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | 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 and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
germany:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
germany:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
germany:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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 | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
germany:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; 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
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
germany:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
germany:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
germany:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
germany:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay