Driving in Myanmar vs North Macedonia: Key Differences
Exploring the roads of Myanmar and North Macedonia reveals significant contrasts in regulations and practices. From lane usage to speed limits and traffic signals, each nation presents unique driving customs. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure travel experience abroad, whether navigating bustling cities or serene rural landscapes.
Lanes
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Signals
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
myanmar:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
myanmar:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
myanmar:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
myanmar:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
myanmar:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay