Driving Differences: Malaysia vs North Macedonia
When exploring the diverse driving landscapes of Malaysia and North Macedonia, travelers will discover significant variations that impact road safety. From lane usage to speed limits and traffic signals, understanding these nuances is essential for a secure journey. Get ready to navigate the unique protocols and regulations that define the driving experience in both countries.
Lanes
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
north macedonia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Signals
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malaysia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
malaysia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
malaysia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
malaysia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
malaysia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay