Driving in Costa Rica vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is vital for a secure journey. This comparison between Costa Rica and Malta reveals stark contrasts, such as driving on different sides of the road and varied speed limits. Familiarize yourself with these distinctions to enhance your experience and ensure road safety in both countries.
Lanes
| Costa rica | 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 | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
costa rica:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
malta:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Costa rica | 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 Costa Rica | Not used in Malta |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | 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 | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
costa rica:
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
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
malta:
Not used in Malta
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Costa rica | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | 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
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | 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 are used throughout | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | 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
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay