Driving in Singapore vs Turkey: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road usage regulations of Singapore and Turkey, notable contrasts emerge that are essential for ensuring safe travels. Singapore mandates left-side driving and strict lane usage, while Turkey adheres to right-side rules with unique overtaking practices. Understanding these distinctions can significantly enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
singapore:
Left
turkey:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
turkey:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
singapore:
Not allowed.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
singapore:
N/A
turkey:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 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 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 | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
singapore:
40 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
70-90 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
singapore:
70-90 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
70-90 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
80-90 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
singapore:
80-90 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
80-90 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Singapore | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
singapore:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
singapore:
Not allowed.
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Display not required | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| 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
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
singapore:
Display not required
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
singapore:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
turkey:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
turkey:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 995 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
singapore:
995
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
singapore:
999
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Singapore | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, demerit points | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $120, demerit points for non-compliance | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $200 to $500, demerit points | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges