Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Singapore

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Singapore — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

left

Driving Side

steering wheel on the right

0.08

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

Motorway Limit

km/h

required

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

50 km/h

Rural / Open Road

80 km/h

Motorway / Highway

90 km/h

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Singapore

General limit: 0.08 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Singapore can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Singapore on the Live Map

Singapore has a WHO-estimated 1.8 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Singapore.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Singapore's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Malaysia Indonesia Cambodia Brunei Vietnam Thailand

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Singapore drive on?

Singapore drives on the left-hand side of the road (like the UK, Japan and Australia).

What is the drink-driving limit in Singapore?

The general limit is 0.08 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Singapore?

Yes — an IDP (or a locally issued permit) is required or strongly enforced for foreign visitors driving in Singapore. Get one in your home country before you travel.

Is it safe to drive in Singapore?

By the numbers, Singapore has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 1.8 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is among the safest countries in the world to drive in — it ranks 194 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the left, which takes getting used to if you normally drive on the right. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.