Driving in Cambodia vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Cambodia and Malta, drivers will encounter notable contrasts in traffic regulations and practices. From the left-hand drive in Malta to the unique lane usage in Cambodia, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe travel. Dive into this comparison to enhance your driving experience abroad!
Lanes
| Cambodia | 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: 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: 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cambodia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| 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 |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Cambodia | 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 | N/A | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and 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
cambodia:
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
cambodia:
N/A
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Cambodia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 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
cambodia:
119
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | 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 | Varies; penalties applied | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay