Driving in Greece vs. Malaysia: Safety Tips & Differences
When navigating the roads of Greece and Malaysia, travelers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. Key contrasts include the side of the road on which to drive, speed limits, and alcohol restrictions. Understanding these variations is essential to ensure a secure and enjoyable journey in each unique environment.
Lanes
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
greece:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
greece:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
greece:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
greece:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 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 | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
greece:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Malaysia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
malaysia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
greece:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
malaysia:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
greece:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
greece:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay