Driving in Malaysia vs. Senegal: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing disparities in road regulations and habits between Malaysia and Senegal, two diverse nations with unique driving customs. Key distinctions include the driving side—left in Malaysia versus right in Senegal—and varying speed limits. Understanding these variances can significantly enhance your travel safety and overall experience on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
senegal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
senegal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
senegal:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
senegal:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
senegal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Signals
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Senegal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| 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
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
malaysia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
senegal:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
senegal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
senegal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 17 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
senegal:
17
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Varies; significant fines |
| 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; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days