½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Road safety is good in Malaysia. The roads are very good and people generally follow the rules. Lived here for 12 years and drove my car here for 7 years and never had any accidents or even near misses.

Only problem is traffic jams during rush hour, and the very boring drive to the airport from downtown KL.

I've been living and driving in Malaysia for 30 years and have never had any major issues. Navigating the roads and dealing with traffic here isn't as bad as some people make it out to be. In fact, compared to other countries where I’ve driven as an expat, Malaysia is quite manageable. The roads are generally good and well-maintained, though of course, you'll always find a few reckless drivers—just like anywhere else. The key is to stay alert and drive carefully.

If you're traveling, plan your trips wisely. Avoid being on the road during festive seasons or long weekends, as traffic can become a nightmare. One of the main concerns on Malaysian roads is the behavior of some truck and bus drivers, and also Singaporean drivers who tend to speed here—probably because they can't do it back home.

As an expat, it's important to follow the rules and observe speed limits. You don't need eyes in the back of your head, but stay vigilant. Motorcycles are another concern—especially superbikes that fly past at high speed. Smaller motorbikes often travel in large groups and frequently break traffic rules.

Always carry some water in your car, just in case you get stuck in one of those random highway traffic jams. While not everyone obeys traffic laws, the majority of drivers do, and the roads are generally safe.

Cycling is becoming more popular, so be cautious whether you're driving or cycling. Motorists don’t always give much space or attention to cyclists, so extra care is needed. Pedestrians are usually safe, as long as they stay on sidewalks and avoid crossing busy roads without a proper crossing.

There may be some unspoken local road habits, but nothing too complex. One area to be cautious around is schools—drop-off and pick-up times can be chaotic. Also, double parking is a common issue; people tend to park wherever they want.

As I mentioned, the main roads are in good condition. Village roads can be a bit tricky, and during the monsoon season, flash floods are a real risk, so drive with caution.

As for children, mine are older now, but I’d say Malaysia is relatively safe for kids. Public transport is also quite reliable. Personally, I wouldn't give my child a bicycle or motorcycle to get around—that’s just asking for trouble. Walking or using ride-hailing services like Grab is safer.

To stay safe on the roads here: be vigilant, follow the rules, and drive responsibly.

Ok, I drove for years in KL and except for frequent surprise police checkpoints, had very few problems. The biggest was learning the roads. You can see out on the horizon the building you want to go to but how to get there? Years back there was an expat selling himself as a road tutor. I didnt buy because I had a GPS but yes, at the beginning you really need help. At the very beginning, before I bought a car, i went to Langkawi, rented a car and taught myself left-side driving. It was hair-raising. After I bought a car in KL, I went out only at 2-3am to drive when it was quiet on the roads so I could learn the streets. I didnt get into intense traffic until maybe after of month of practice. In KL, I wouldnt say that drivers are polite, they arent, but they appear to be polite because everyone anticipates what errors the other guy is going to make and so they accommodate each other pretty well. Many streets have no names so without GPS a person is going to be very messed up. In the early days there was no WAZE or Google or Apple maps. Watch for potholes, a very taboo topic in the country due to its embarrassment.

It was a different story when I moved to Penang in 2012 and then had seven accidents. I should back up and say something which applies to driving and everything else in the country. KL, being the center, is where the rules are. As you move away from the center, the police are still there but lawlessness rises because you are out of sight from "mom and dad." Maybe the guy will stop at the intersection or maybe he wont. Good luck! As an example you wont so often hear, I went from Penang to some far out, remote town to visit a friend who was interned in a hospital. I got to the area OK, but couldnt find my way to the hospital. I stopped and found a taxi. This taxi, the only taxi, wasnt a branded one, just a guy offering the service. His decrepit old car had no rear doors. I said, Sir, your car is missing doors! He said they rusted and fell off and he couldnt be bothered to replace them. Ok, fine, lets go. Well, in the back seat the seat belts were also gone and his lawless and erratic driving caused quite a wild ride as I fought to stay IN the car! See, that would never be permitted in KL. In the wild jungle, anything goes.

Road conditions greatly worsen as you get further out from cities. There are no lights on roads and rains can be outright crazy. I have many stories of driving and motorcycling in terrifying conditions.

Get an International Driving Permit and if so, no need for a local licence. When stopped in checkpoints, have your IDP, passport, vehicle ownership copy and licence from your home country to show police.

I would say watch for the motorcycle who come from each side. I lived an hour south of KL less traffic I rarely see a police but they do have speed cameras in the highway.

people tend to cut you off sometimes. Don’t expect the driver in front of you to signal. I found it odd that in more than few cases the person signals one direction but goes to the opposite direction.

One thing that is a saving grace is people drive slowly and calm unlike in US.

it tends to be very busy when people go and leave work and during the holidays.

i showed them my US driver license and they gave me a Malaysian drive license so that was easy.

we drive on the right side in US so it will take to get used to driving on the left side