Driving in Myanmar vs. South Korea: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Myanmar and South Korea, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. Key contrasts include lane usage, speed limits, and traffic protocols. Understanding these variances is vital for ensuring a smooth and secure driving experience as you navigate these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| 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 sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
south korea:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Signals
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| 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 and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Yes |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
south korea:
Yes