Driving in Ghana vs. Singapore: Key Differences Explained
When comparing road rules in Ghana and Singapore, striking contrasts emerge in driving practices and regulations. While Ghana drives on the right, Singapore adopts the left. Speed limits, lane usage, and vehicle inspections also differ significantly, highlighting the importance of adapting to each country's unique driving landscape for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Ghana | 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 | Generally not advised. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
singapore:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
singapore:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 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 | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ghana:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Ghana | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ghana | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ghana | 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 | Mandatory | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | 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 | Frequent use compared to some countries | 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 to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ghana:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
ghana:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 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 |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay