Driving Differences: Portugal vs. Singapore Uncovered
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road conduct is crucial. This comparison between Portugal and Singapore reveals significant distinctions in driving regulations. Notably, Portugal adheres to right-side travel, while Singapore opts for the left. Additionally, speed limits and vehicle documentation requirements differ, highlighting the importance of being informed for a safe journey.
Lanes
| Portugal | 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 | Prohibited. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
portugal:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
portugal:
Prohibited.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
portugal:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Portugal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 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 | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
portugal:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
portugal:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
70 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
portugal:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
90 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
portugal:
Possible
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Portugal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Portugal | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Portugal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
portugal:
Prohibited
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Portugal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Portugal | 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
portugal:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
portugal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Portugal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Professional Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Portugal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local authorities | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACP | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
portugal:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
portugal:
Contact local authorities
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Portugal | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €120 to €600 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €240 to €1,200 | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €120 to €600 | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | 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
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
portugal:
€120 to €600
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
portugal:
€120 to €600
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
portugal:
Possible
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay