Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Malta Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Barbados and Malta. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol restrictions and emergency services, each nation has unique guidelines that shape the driving experience. Understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | Yes |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Barbados | 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 Barbados | Not used in Malta |
| 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
barbados:
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
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
barbados:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | 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
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
malta:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 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
barbados:
211 or 911
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | 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 | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay