Driving in Germany vs. Singapore: Key Differences Explained
When traversing the roads of Germany and Singapore, drivers encounter distinct rules and practices that shape their experiences. Key variations include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe and smooth journey in these two unique countries.
Lanes
| Germany | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Not allowed. |
| 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 during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 |
Driving Side
germany:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
singapore:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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 | 80-90 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
germany:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Germany | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Germany | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Germany | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | 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
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Germany | 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 | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
germany:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
germany:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Germany | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | 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
germany:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay