Driving Differences: Malaysia vs. Russia Explained
When navigating the roads of Malaysia versus Russia, drivers encounter notable variances in regulations and practices. From the side of the road you drive on to speed limits and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad. Explore the key aspects that set these two countries apart and drive with confidence.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
russia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
russia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 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 also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malaysia:
30 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Russia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Russian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
russia:
Not used in Russia
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
russia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.035% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
russia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
russia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay