Driving in Canada vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Canada and Malta, diverse regulations and practices come into play. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits, understanding these disparities is crucial for a safe journey. Whether it's lane usage or traffic signals, our comparison highlights essential distinctions to enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Canada | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | 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 often green paint. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
canada:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
malta:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 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 | Yes, but varies by province | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Canada | 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 Canada | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); 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
canada:
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
canada:
Not used in Canada
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Canada | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
malta:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Canada | 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
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Canada | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Canada | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | 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; often upwards of $200 | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay