Driving in Singapore vs South Korea: Key Differences
Discover the essential distinctions in road regulations between Singapore and South Korea, two countries with unique driving cultures. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore how these nations prioritize road safety in diverse ways.
Lanes
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
singapore:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Right
singapore:
Not allowed.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
singapore:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
singapore:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
singapore:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
singapore:
50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
singapore:
40 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
70-90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
singapore:
70-90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
70-90 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
80-90 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
singapore:
80-90 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
80-90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
singapore:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Singapore | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
singapore:
Not allowed.
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Display not required | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
singapore:
Display not required
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
singapore:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
south korea:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Pedestrians Priority
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
south korea:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 995 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
singapore:
995
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
singapore:
999
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Singapore | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, demerit points | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $120, demerit points for non-compliance | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $200 to $500, demerit points | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay