Driving Differences: Malaysia vs. Venezuela Explained
When navigating the roads of Malaysia and Venezuela, understanding their distinct driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. From lane usage to speed limits, these nations demonstrate notable contrasts: Malaysia drives on the left side, while Venezuela adheres to the right. Additionally, varying rules on overtaking and emergency protocols highlight the importance of familiarizing oneself with local traffic customs.
Lanes
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
venezuela:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Signals
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
venezuela:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 171 |
| 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 | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | Fines applicable |
| 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 | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible