Driving in Italy vs. Malaysia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Italy and Malaysia, motorists encounter distinct regulations and practices that govern safe travel. From lane usage to speed limits and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is essential for a secure driving experience abroad. This guide reveals the key disparities and unique considerations you need to keep in mind while exploring these vibrant countries.
Lanes
| Italy | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
italy:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
italy:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
italy:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | 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 | 70 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Italy | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Italy | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
italy:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Italy | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Italy | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay