Driving in the Philippines vs. Singapore: Key Differences
When traversing the roads of the Philippines and Singapore, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly influence their travel experience. Key differences encompass driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage, with Singapore adopting a more stringent approach to road safety. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring safe journeys in both nations.
Lanes
| Philippines | 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 | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
philippines:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
singapore:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
philippines:
Yes
singapore:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
philippines:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Philippines | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 kph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 kph | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 kph | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 kph | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Less common; fines are usually issued later | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
philippines:
40 kph
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
philippines:
20 kph
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
80 kph
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
philippines:
70 kph
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
50 kph
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
100 kph
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
philippines:
80 kph
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
80 kph
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Speed Units
philippines:
kph
singapore:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
philippines:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Philippines | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Filipino; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
philippines:
Not used
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Philippines | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Philippines | 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 |
| Insurance | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed | 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 | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Insurance
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
singapore:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
philippines:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Philippines | 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 | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users | 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
philippines:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
philippines:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Philippines | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Professional Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Philippines | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AAA | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
philippines:
911
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
philippines:
117
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
philippines:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Philippines | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | PHP 300 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | PHP 1000 | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
philippines:
PHP 300
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
philippines:
PHP 1000
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay