Driving Differences: Kazakhstan vs Malaysia Explained
When navigating the roads of Kazakhstan and Malaysia, understanding the unique driving regulations and cultural norms is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. While Kazakhstan drives on the right, Malaysia adheres to the left, creating notable contrasts that every traveler should be aware of.
Lanes
| Kazakhstan | 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 | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Varies by region | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles where present. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
kazakhstan:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kazakhstan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
kazakhstan:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
kazakhstan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
kazakhstan:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kazakhstan:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Reserved for buses.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Labeled with specific signs and road markings.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kazakhstan:
Varies by region
malaysia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
kazakhstan:
40-60 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kazakhstan:
20 km/h
malaysia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
80-90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
110 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Signals
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kazakhstan | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Kazakh and Russian; 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
kazakhstan:
Not used in Kazakhstan
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
kazakhstan:
Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kazakhstan:
Triangular with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kazakhstan:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kazakhstan:
Moderate use
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kazakhstan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
kazakhstan:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
kazakhstan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 102 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
kazakhstan:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
kazakhstan:
Call 102
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kazakhstan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kazakhstan | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for handheld use while driving | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
Common Fines: Speeding
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for non-use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for handheld use while driving
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kazakhstan:
Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations