Driving in Russia vs. Singapore: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roadways of Russia and Singapore, understanding the distinct driving norms is essential for ensuring a safe journey. From lane usage and speed restrictions to penalties for infractions, these countries exhibit notable contrasts. Discover how to adapt your driving skills and promote safety as you travel abroad, whether in Russia’s expansive landscapes or Singapore’s urban settings.
Lanes
| Russia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
russia:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Russia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; but fines are also mailed | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
russia:
60 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
russia:
20 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
russia:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
70-80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
110 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
russia:
90-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
90 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Russia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Russia | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Russian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
russia:
Not used in Russia
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Russia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Russia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually indicated in vehicle documents | Display not required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
russia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Russia | 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
russia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
russia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Russia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.035% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in cities | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: General Drivers
russia:
0.035%
singapore:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
russia:
Common, especially in cities
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Russia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers; 113 is common | 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 |
Contact: General Emergency
russia:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
russia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Russia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points in the record | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
russia:
Fines apply
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
russia:
Fines apply
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay