Driving in Belgium vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Malta, travelers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their journey. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and traffic signage, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience on the go. Dive into the unique driving nuances of each country!
Lanes
| Belgium | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | 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
belgium:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Belgium | 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 | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
belgium:
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
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Belgium | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | 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 | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or 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
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | 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
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | 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
belgium:
101
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | 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 | Fine of around 50 EUR | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay