Driving Differences: Iceland vs. Malaysia Explained
When exploring the roads of Iceland and Malaysia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and customs that shape their travel experiences. From varying speed limits and lane usage to unique signaling practices, it's essential to grasp these nuances to ensure a secure journey. Discover how these two countries diverge in their approach to vehicular navigation and road etiquette.
Lanes
| Iceland | 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 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Signals
| Iceland | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Malaysia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
malaysia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
malaysia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Iceland | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | 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
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay