Driving in Israel vs. Singapore: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Israel and Singapore, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experiences. Key variations include the driving side—right in Israel versus left in Singapore—and contrasting speed limits. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey while abroad.
Lanes
| Israel | 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 | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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 | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 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 | 100-120 km/h | 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 | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Israel | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Singapore |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
singapore:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Israel | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Israel | 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 | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | 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 | Moderate 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
israel:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
israel:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Israel | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | 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
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay