Driving in Malaysia vs. Netherlands: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Malaysia and the Netherlands, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides—left in Malaysia and right in the Netherlands—as well as varying speed limits and overtaking rules. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts ensures a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
netherlands:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
netherlands:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
netherlands:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 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 | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
netherlands:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Netherlands |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Dutch; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Turns
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
netherlands:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
netherlands:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
netherlands:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
malaysia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
netherlands:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
netherlands:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
netherlands:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required