Driving in Malaysia vs. Switzerland: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Malaysia and Switzerland, understanding the distinct driving practices is crucial for safe travel. Key differences include the driving side—left in Malaysia versus right in Switzerland—as well as varying speed limits and etiquette for emergency vehicles. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts ensures a smoother journey in each nation.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malaysia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
switzerland:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 30-50 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 | 80 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| 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
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
switzerland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
malaysia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
switzerland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
malaysia:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
switzerland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | CHF 100 |
| 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 | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay