Driving Differences: Malaysia vs Tunisia Explained
When navigating the roads of Malaysia and Tunisia, drivers encounter a range of contrasts that impact their journey. From the differing sides of the road to unique speed limits and traffic regulations, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad. Explore the key variances to drive confidently in either country.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not typically permitted. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
tunisia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 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 | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Signals
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
malaysia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay