Driving Safety: Malaysia vs. Myanmar Insights
Driving regulations can vary significantly, and understanding these nuances is vital for a safe experience abroad. This comparison between Malaysia and Myanmar highlights notable contrasts, such as lane usage—where Malaysia drives on the left while Myanmar drives on the right—and differing speed limits in urban and rural areas. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Marks the edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
myanmar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
myanmar:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
myanmar:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Signals
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Myanmar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
myanmar:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
myanmar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
myanmar:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Available through some insurance providers |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Possible; else must be paid at office |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office