Driving Differences: Malaysia vs. Romania Explained
When exploring the roads of Malaysia and Romania, it's essential to understand the unique regulations and practices that govern vehicular travel in each country. Key distinctions arise in lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol policies, shaping the driving experience and ensuring road safety. Discover how these contrasting rules can impact your journey abroad.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
romania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
romania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
romania:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
romania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 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 | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
malaysia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspections 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: E U/ E E A
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
| 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
romania:
Moderate use expected
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
romania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
malaysia:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist