Driving in Malaysia vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the nuances of road regulations between Malaysia and Norway is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience. Key contrasts include Malaysia's left-side driving and relaxed overtaking rules, while Norway emphasizes stricter speed limits and the use of high-occupancy lanes. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge for safer travels abroad.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
norway:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 30-50 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: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
norway:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Yes, typically required |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
norway:
Yes, typically required