Driving in Italy vs. Singapore: Key Safety Differences
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations and traffic norms between Italy and Singapore. From varying speed limits to unique lane usage rules, this comparison highlights key distinctions that impact driving safety. Understanding these nuances is crucial for a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Italy | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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 | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
italy:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
singapore:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | 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 | 70 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Signals
| Italy | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Italy | 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 with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | 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
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
italy:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Italy | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | 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
italy:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay