Driving in Norway vs. Singapore: A Safety Comparison
When navigating the roads of Norway and Singapore, understanding the distinct nuances of traffic regulations and driving customs is essential for safe travel. Key differences include driving orientation—right in Norway and left in Singapore—speed limits, lane usage, and emergency protocols. This guide will help ensure a smooth journey in either country.
Lanes
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
norway:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
singapore:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
singapore:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
norway:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
norway:
Not allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | 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 | None | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
norway:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
norway:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | 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
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay