Driving Differences: Antigua and Barbuda vs. Malta
When navigating the roads of Antigua and Barbuda compared to Malta, understanding their unique regulations and practices is vital for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol consumption laws, which vary significantly. This guide will help you adapt and drive confidently in these distinct driving environments.
Lanes
| Antigua and barbuda | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Right | Overtaking is done on the right. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
antigua and barbuda:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
antigua and barbuda:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Right
antigua and barbuda:
Overtaking is done on the right.
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
No exclusive bus lanes; regular traffic lanes used by buses.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
antigua and barbuda:
Bicycles share the road with motor vehicles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Speeds Limits
| Antigua and barbuda | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-30 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 mph | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-50 mph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-50 mph | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-50 mph | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 50-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 50-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
antigua and barbuda:
20-30 mph
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
antigua and barbuda:
20 mph
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
40-50 mph
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
antigua and barbuda:
50-55 mph
malta:
80 km/h
Speed Units
antigua and barbuda:
mph
malta:
km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
antigua and barbuda:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Antigua and barbuda | 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 | Not used in Malta |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border and white background | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
antigua and barbuda:
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
antigua and barbuda:
Not used
malta:
Not used in Malta
Horn Usage: Penalties
antigua and barbuda:
N/A
malta:
Fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
antigua and barbuda:
English; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
antigua and barbuda:
Triangular-shaped with red border and white background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Antigua and barbuda | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signed otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
antigua and barbuda:
Prohibited
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
antigua and barbuda:
Permitted unless signed otherwise
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Antigua and barbuda | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
antigua and barbuda:
Periodic inspections required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
antigua and barbuda:
Displayed on vehicle
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Antigua and barbuda | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance; 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties for DUI | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
0.08%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
antigua and barbuda:
Zero tolerance; 0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
antigua and barbuda:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial penalties for DUI
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Antigua and barbuda | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
antigua and barbuda:
911
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
antigua and barbuda:
911 for emergencies; local numbers may vary
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
antigua and barbuda:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
antigua and barbuda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Antigua and barbuda | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points in some cases | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points in some cases | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be paid immediately | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
antigua and barbuda:
Varies; $50 to $500, possible license points
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
antigua and barbuda:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
antigua and barbuda:
$25 to $200, points in some cases
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
antigua and barbuda:
$50 to $300, points in some cases
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
antigua and barbuda:
$100 to $500, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
antigua and barbuda:
Yes; fines can be paid immediately
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
antigua and barbuda:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay