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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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