Driving Differences: Oman vs. Singapore - Key Insights
When navigating the roads of Oman and Singapore, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that affect their journey. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and the use of emergency equipment. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and seamless experience while exploring these unique countries.
Lanes
| Oman | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
oman:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
oman:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
oman:
No
singapore:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
oman:
N/A
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
oman:
N/A
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
oman:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
oman:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
oman:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Oman | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 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
oman:
40-60 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
oman:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
oman:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
oman:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
oman:
120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
oman:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
oman:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
oman:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
oman:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
oman:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Oman | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Oman | Not used in Singapore |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
oman:
Not used in Oman
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
singapore:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Oman | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
oman:
Not typically allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Oman | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | 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
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
oman:
Regular inspection required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
oman:
Displayed on windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
oman:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
oman:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Oman | 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 | Use more frequent compared to some countries | 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 | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
oman:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
oman:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Oman | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
oman:
0.00%
singapore:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
oman:
Common
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
oman:
Substantial fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Oman | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 9999 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 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
oman:
9999
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
oman:
9999
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
oman:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
oman:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Oman | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines may apply | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines can be substantial | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; ensure timely payment | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
oman:
Fines may apply
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
oman:
Fines may apply
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
oman:
Fines can be substantial
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
oman:
Common
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay