Driving in Albania vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Albania and Malta, drivers will encounter notable contrasts in regulations and practices. From the side of the road on which vehicles navigate—right in Albania and left in Malta—to variances in speed limits and the presence of bus lanes, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure experience on foreign streets.
Lanes
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
albania:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
albania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
albania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
albania:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
albania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
albania:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
albania:
No
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
albania:
N/A
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
albania:
N/A
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
albania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
albania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
albania:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be paid at the scene. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
albania:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
albania:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
albania:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
albania:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
albania:
Mandatory; proof required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
albania:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
malta:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
albania:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
albania:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
albania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
albania:
Check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
albania:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay