Driving in Myanmar vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
Explore the fascinating contrast in road regulations and practices between Myanmar and Norway. While Myanmar permits overtaking on the right and features a more lenient alcohol limit, Norway emphasizes strict adherence to lane usage and lower blood alcohol thresholds. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safe travels and navigating foreign terrains effectively.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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 'BUS ONLY'; often 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 colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
myanmar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
norway:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | High fines and possible license revocation |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
norway:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Yes, typically required |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
myanmar:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
norway:
Yes, typically required