Driving Differences: Chile vs Malta - What to Know
Explore the unique road rules and regulations of Chile and Malta, two countries with distinct driving cultures. From contrasting lane usage and speed limits to varying alcohol limits and penalties, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe journey abroad. Prepare for your travels by uncovering these fascinating differences!
Lanes
| Chile | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless 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 | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked 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 sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
chile:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
chile:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
chile:
Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
chile:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
chile:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Chile | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
chile:
40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Chile | 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 Chile | Not used in Malta |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
chile:
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
chile:
Not used in Chile
malta:
Not used in Malta
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Chile | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Chile | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
chile:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Chile | 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
chile:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Chile | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
chile:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
chile:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Chile | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
malta:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
chile:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Chile | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services | 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: General Emergency
chile:
133
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay