Driving Differences: Colombia vs. Malta Explained
When traversing the roads of Colombia and Malta, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences behind the wheel. Key variations include driving sides—right in Colombia versus left in Malta—and speed limits, where urban zones in Colombia offer a broader range. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure journey in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Colombia | 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 | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | 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 |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
colombia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
colombia:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
colombia:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Colombia | 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 Colombia | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; 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
colombia:
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
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Colombia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Colombia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | 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
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | 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
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| 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; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Colombia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
colombia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside 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
colombia:
123
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, 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 | $50 to $150, points on license | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | 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
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay