Driving in Argentina vs Malta: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Argentina and Malta, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their experience. Key variations include driving sides—right in Argentina and left in Malta—and differences in speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signals. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a safe journey in either country.
Lanes
| Argentina | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | 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 |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
argentina:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Argentina | 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 Argentina | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
argentina:
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
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Argentina | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | 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
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Argentina | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | 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: General Emergency
argentina:
911
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | 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 apply | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | 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
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay