Driving in Singapore vs. Spain: Key Safety Differences
Understanding the road rules in Singapore versus Spain reveals notable contrasts that every traveler should know. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and regulations regarding lane usage, these distinctions are crucial for ensuring a safe and smooth journey. Dive in to discover essential insights for navigating each country's unique driving landscape.
Lanes
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
Driving Side
singapore:
Left
spain:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
singapore:
Not allowed.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
singapore:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
singapore:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
singapore:
40 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
70-90 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
singapore:
70-90 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
70-90 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
80-90 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
singapore:
80-90 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
80-90 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Singapore | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
singapore:
Not allowed.
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Display not required | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
singapore:
Display not required
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
singapore:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
| 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
spain:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Pedestrians Priority
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
spain:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 995 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
singapore:
995
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
singapore:
999
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Singapore | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, demerit points | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $120, demerit points for non-compliance | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $200 to $500, demerit points | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay