Driving in Austria vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Austria and Malta, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact safety and comfort. From driving on the right versus the left side to varying speed limits and lane usage, understanding these contrasts is crucial for a secure experience abroad. Explore the key distinctions that define driving in these two unique nations.
Lanes
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
austria:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
austria:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
austria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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; fines may also be mailed. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
austria:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Austria | 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 | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Malta |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
austria:
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
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
malta:
Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
malta:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | 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
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
austria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | 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
austria:
133
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | 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, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
austria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay