Driving in Malaysia vs. Serbia: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roadways of Malaysia and Serbia, key distinctions in traffic regulations and driving practices emerge. From the contrasting sides of the road to varying speed limits and alcohol restrictions, understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Discover how these two countries differ in their approach to road safety.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
serbia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
serbia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
serbia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
serbia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay