Driving Safety: Malaysia vs Philippines Explained
Embarking on a journey through Malaysia or the Philippines? It's essential to understand the unique road rules and regulations that govern each nation. From lane usage to speed limits, these countries present distinct driving practices that impact your safety. Discover the key variations to navigate these roads with confidence and clarity.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
philippines:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
philippines:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malaysia:
30 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
malaysia:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Insurance
malaysia:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
philippines:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance