Driving in Cuba vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique road regulations and practices between Cuba and Malta, which can significantly impact your travel experience. From driving sides to speed limits and traffic signals, this comparison highlights essential distinctions that ensure your journey remains secure and enjoyable. Equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate these diverse environments confidently!
Lanes
| Cuba | 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 typical; follow local rules and signs. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cuba:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
cuba:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
malta:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
malta:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 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 | 50-70 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
malta:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Cuba | 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 Cuba | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
cuba:
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
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Cuba | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in 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
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | 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 | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay