Driving Differences: Croatia vs. Malta Explained
Croatia and Malta present distinct driving experiences, each with unique regulations and road customs. While Croatia adheres to right-side driving, Malta opts for the left. Speed limits and traffic protocols further differentiate these Mediterranean nations, underscoring the importance of understanding these variances for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Croatia | 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 | Not commonly practiced. | 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 | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
croatia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
croatia:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Croatia | 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 | Not used in Malta |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
croatia:
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
croatia:
Not used
malta:
Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
malta:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Croatia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Croatia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | 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 | Annual inspection required | 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 |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Croatia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | 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: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | 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 | Fines enforced | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay