Driving in Greece vs. Singapore: What You Need to Know
When it comes to navigating the roads of Greece and Singapore, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and diverse traffic etiquette. This comparison highlights essential driving rules and regulations to help travelers adapt and stay secure while abroad.
Lanes
| Greece | 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 | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
greece:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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 | 80-90 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
greece:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Greece | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Singapore |
| 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 | 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
singapore:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Greece | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
greece:
Not allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Greece | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | 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
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | 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 | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
greece:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
greece:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Greece | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | 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
greece:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | $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 | €350, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay