Driving in Myanmar vs. Portugal: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road customs of Myanmar and Portugal, distinct contrasts emerge that are crucial for safe navigation. From lane usage rules to speed limits and alcohol regulations, both nations exhibit unique driving cultures. Understanding these variations ensures travelers can adapt and prioritize safety while exploring foreign roads.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS'; 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| 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.
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
portugal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
portugal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 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 | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
portugal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
portugal:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
portugal:
Possible