Driving Differences: Maldives vs South Korea Explained
When navigating the roads of the Maldives and South Korea, drivers encounter distinct rules and practices that can impact safety and comfort. From lane usage, where the Maldives drives on the left while South Korea adheres to the right, to varying speed limits and overtaking regulations, understanding these nuances is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, when safe and legal. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be designated with road signs or markings. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Minimal | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Usually not specifically marked in many areas. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
maldives:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
maldives:
Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
maldives:
Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
south korea:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
maldives:
No
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
maldives:
Yes, when safe and legal.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
maldives:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
maldives:
Limited
south korea:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
maldives:
Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
maldives:
May be designated with road signs or markings.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
maldives:
Minimal
south korea:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
maldives:
Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
maldives:
Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
maldives:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
maldives:
Not applicable
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
maldives:
Not applicable
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
maldives:
30 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
maldives:
25 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
maldives:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
maldives:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
maldives:
80 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
maldives:
Not applicable
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
maldives:
Not applicable
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
maldives:
Not applicable
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
maldives:
Not applicable
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
maldives:
Common
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used in Maldives | Not used in South Korea |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Country-specific shapes and colors | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
maldives:
Not commonly used in Maldives
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Horn Usage: Allowed
maldives:
Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
south korea:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
maldives:
Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
maldives:
Country-specific shapes and colors
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
| Special Turn Lanes | Limited, mainly at main intersections | Yes, marked with arrows |
Right Turn On Red
maldives:
Not allowed unless signed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
maldives:
Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Special Turn Lanes
maldives:
Limited, mainly at main intersections
south korea:
Yes, marked with arrows
Documentation
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic checks required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
maldives:
Periodic checks required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
maldives:
Usually displayed on the vehicle
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
maldives:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
maldives:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| 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
maldives:
Common practice
south korea:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
maldives:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Fines can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
maldives:
0.00%
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
maldives:
0.00%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
maldives:
0.00%
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
maldives:
Less common
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
maldives:
Fines can be substantial
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
maldives:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Appropriate lanes as per signage | Use for first exit or straight |
| Lane Usage: Left | Appropriate lanes as per signage | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Lane Usage: Right
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
south korea:
Use for first exit or straight
Lane Usage: Left
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
south korea:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police for traffic issues | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
maldives:
119
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
maldives:
Contact local police for traffic issues
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Maldives | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from MVR 750 | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for minor offenses | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified time | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
maldives:
Varies; fines start from MVR 750
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Alcohol
maldives:
Severe penalties including license suspension
south korea:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
maldives:
Fines apply for non-compliance
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
maldives:
Fines for use without hands-free
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
maldives:
Substantial fines
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
maldives:
Possible for minor offenses
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
maldives:
Varies; typically within a specified time
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay