Driving in Myanmar vs. Switzerland: Safety Insights
Discover the striking contrasts in road regulations and driving customs between Myanmar and Switzerland. From lane markings and speed limits to traffic signals and penalties, this comparison highlights crucial distinctions that impact road safety. Whether you're navigating urban streets or rural highways, understanding these variations is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
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. |
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.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
myanmar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
switzerland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
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 | 120 km/h |
Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 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 |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Prepare to go |
Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | 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
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
switzerland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
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
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
switzerland:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
myanmar:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
myanmar:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 112 |
Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 117 |
Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | 140 |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
switzerland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
Myanmar | Switzerland | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | CHF 60 |
Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | CHF 100 |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | Varies; substantial fines |
Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay