Driving in Malaysia vs South Korea: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Malaysia and South Korea, understanding their contrasting traffic regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Malaysia versus the right in South Korea, varying speed limits, and unique lane usage rules. Familiarizing yourself with these variances can enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| 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 during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
south korea:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Signals
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
south korea:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Yes |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
south korea:
Yes