Driving in Kuwait vs. Singapore: Key Safety Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for a safe journey. This comparison between Kuwait and Singapore reveals significant contrasts, such as driving sides, lane usage, and speed limits. While Kuwait drives on the right, Singaporeites navigate on the left, showcasing just one of the many distinctions vital for ensuring road safety in each nation.
Lanes
| Kuwait | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
kuwait:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
singapore:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kuwait:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
kuwait:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 40 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 | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
kuwait:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kuwait:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Kuwait | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Kuwait | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Kuwait | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Display not required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
singapore:
Display not required
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | 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
kuwait:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
kuwait:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kuwait | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Possible for severe offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
singapore:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
singapore:
Possible for severe offenses
Emergency Services
| Kuwait | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
Contact: General Emergency
kuwait:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay