Driving in Bulgaria vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences

When navigating the roads of Bulgaria and Malta, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their journeys. From varying speed limits to lane usage and alcohol thresholds, understanding these contrasts is essential for a safe and enjoyable experience abroad. Explore the key driving regulations that set these two nations apart.

bulgariamalta

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in bulgaria is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bulgaria is 75

1.368 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bulgaria is 1.368 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Bulgaria	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	Primarily reserved for public transport.	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

Driving Side

bulgaria:

Right

malta:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

bulgaria:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

malta:

Marks the left edge on some divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

bulgaria:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

malta:

Often used to indicate parking restrictions.

Overtaking: On Left

bulgaria:

Yes

malta:

Overtaking: On Right

bulgaria:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

malta:

Yes

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

bulgaria:

Use rightmost lane.

malta:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Usage

bulgaria:

Primarily reserved for public transport.

malta:

Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.

Bus Lanes: Markings

bulgaria:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

malta:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Usage

bulgaria:

Exclusive for bicycles.

malta:

Shared use with caution, marked on roads.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

bulgaria:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

malta:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Bulgaria	Malta
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	140 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	100 km/h	80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

bulgaria:

30 km/h

malta:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

bulgaria:

90 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

bulgaria:

80 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

bulgaria:

80 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

bulgaria:

140 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

bulgaria:

100 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

bulgaria:

100 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

bulgaria:

Yes

malta:

Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation

Signals

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	Bulgaria	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 Bulgaria	Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language	Bulgarian; symbols are standard	English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangle-shaped with a red border	Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.

Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber

bulgaria:

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

bulgaria:

Not used in Bulgaria

malta:

Not used in Malta

Traffic Signs: Language

bulgaria:

Bulgarian; symbols are standard

malta:

English and Maltese; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

bulgaria:

Triangle-shaped with a red border

malta:

Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.

Turns

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	Bulgaria		Malta
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

bulgaria:

Not generally allowed

malta:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

bulgaria:

Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs

malta:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Bulgaria	Malta
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, proof required	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: Non- E U

bulgaria:

Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit

malta:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

bulgaria:

Yes, proof required

malta:

Annual vehicle inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

bulgaria:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

malta:

Displayed on license plate or windshield.

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bulgaria:

Mandatory

malta:

Recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bulgaria:

Mandatory

malta:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Bulgaria		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

bulgaria:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

malta:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Bulgaria	Malta
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial	Reasonably enforced; can be substantial

Limits: Professional Drivers

bulgaria:

0.00%

malta:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

bulgaria:

0.00%

malta:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

bulgaria:

Common; checkpoints used

malta:

Common; checkpoints used in some areas

Enforcement: Fines

bulgaria:

Substantial

malta:

Reasonably enforced; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Bulgaria		Malta
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

bulgaria:

Signal right when preparing to exit

malta:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Bulgaria	Malta
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies by region	112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or local providers	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

bulgaria:

Varies by region

malta:

112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

bulgaria:

Check with your insurance provider or local providers

malta:

Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bulgaria:

Mandatory

malta:

Recommended but not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bulgaria:

Mandatory

malta:

Recommended but not mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Bulgaria	Malta
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; often €20 to €150, 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	Up to €50	Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	Up to €50	Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Varies; typically fined and points on license	Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines often paid onsite	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

bulgaria:

Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license

malta:

Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

bulgaria:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

malta:

Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

bulgaria:

Up to €50

malta:

Typically around €50, points may apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

bulgaria:

Up to €50

malta:

Typically around €100, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

bulgaria:

Varies; typically fined and points on license

malta:

Typically around €100, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

bulgaria:

Common; fines often paid onsite

malta:

Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail

Payment: Deadline

bulgaria:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

malta:

Varies; typically 15 days to pay