Driving in Malaysia vs. Vanuatu: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Malaysia and Vanuatu, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. While Malaysia adheres to left-side driving, Vanuatu opts for the right. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage reveal contrasting approaches to road safety, making it essential for travelers to familiarize themselves with these unique driving customs.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
vanuatu:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
vanuatu:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
vanuatu:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
vanuatu:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
malaysia:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Insurance
malaysia:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
vanuatu:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vanuatu:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Possible; or through police stations |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations