Driving in Kuwait vs. Malaysia: Key Safety Differences
Kuwait and Malaysia showcase contrasting approaches to road conduct and safety measures. While Kuwait mandates right-side driving and strict alcohol limits, Malaysia opts for left-side navigation with a more lenient blood alcohol threshold. Discover these vital distinctions to enhance your travel experience and ensure secure journeys in either nation.
Lanes
| Kuwait | 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 | Not commonly practiced. | 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 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kuwait:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
kuwait:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
kuwait:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kuwait:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
malaysia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
120 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Signals
| Kuwait | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kuwait:
Not used
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Kuwait | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless signs allow | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Kuwait | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kuwait:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | 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
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kuwait | 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 | Less common | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Substantial fines |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Possible for severe offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
malaysia:
Possible for severe offenses
Roundabouts
| Kuwait | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
kuwait:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Kuwait | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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
kuwait:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay