Driving in Myanmar vs. Singapore: Safety & Rules Compared
When comparing road regulations between Myanmar and Singapore, notable distinctions emerge that can impact your journey. From driving sides and speed limits to the presence of cycle lanes and enforcement of penalties, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure experience behind the wheel in either country.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the right 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 allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
myanmar:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
singapore:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
singapore:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
myanmar:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
myanmar:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
myanmar:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay