Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Malaysia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Ivory Coast and Malaysia, motorists encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly influence their driving experiences. From varying speed limits and lane usage to unique rules on overtaking and turning, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring safety and compliance while abroad.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | 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 |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
ivory coast:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
ivory coast:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
ivory coast:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | 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 | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
ivory coast:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Ivory coast | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Malaysia |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
malaysia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ivory coast | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
malaysia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Ivory coast | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
ivory coast:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay