Driving Differences: Malaysia vs. Saudi Arabia
When exploring the unique aspects of driving in Malaysia versus Saudi Arabia, several key distinctions emerge that can significantly impact your travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol regulations, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Let's delve into the essential contrasts that define the road rules in these two remarkable countries.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
saudi arabia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malaysia:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Documentation
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
malaysia:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer