Driving Differences: Australia vs Malta Explained
When navigating the roads of Australia and Malta, distinct contrasts emerge in traffic regulations and roadway etiquette. While Australia emphasizes speed limit enforcement and bus lane restrictions, Malta focuses on shared cycle paths and unique traffic signs. Understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure and smooth driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| Australia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
australia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
malta:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Australia | 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 commonly used. | Not used in Malta |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; 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
australia:
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
australia:
Not commonly used.
malta:
Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
malta:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Australia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Australia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
malta:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
malta:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 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
australia:
000
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | 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 | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay