Driving in Singapore vs. Switzerland: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Singapore and Switzerland, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journeys. Notably, Singapore drives on the left side while Switzerland follows the right. Speed limits, lane usage, and road etiquette vary, emphasizing the importance of understanding these crucial nuances to ensure a safe driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
Driving Side
singapore:
Left
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
singapore:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right
singapore:
Not allowed.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Speeds Limits
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 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 | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
singapore:
50 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
singapore:
40 km/h
switzerland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
70-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
singapore:
70-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
70-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
80-90 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
singapore:
80-90 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
80-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Singapore | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
singapore:
Not allowed.
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Display not required | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
singapore:
Display not required
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory
switzerland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Pedestrians Priority
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
switzerland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
switzerland:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
singapore:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
singapore:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 995 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
singapore:
995
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
singapore:
999
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Singapore | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, demerit points | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $120, demerit points for non-compliance | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $200 to $500, demerit points | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay