Driving Differences: Denmark vs. Malta Uncovered
When navigating the roads of Denmark and Malta, motorists encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and traffic signaling. Understanding these unique driving customs is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in both nations.
Lanes
| Denmark | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used temporarily in construction zones. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. | 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 often green or red colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
denmark:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
denmark:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
denmark:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
denmark:
Not applicable
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Denmark | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 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 | 110-130 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for minor offenses. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
denmark:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
denmark:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
110-130 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
denmark:
90-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Denmark | 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 | Used before green. | Not used in Malta |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Danish; 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
denmark:
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
denmark:
Used before green.
malta:
Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
malta:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
denmark:
Triangular with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Denmark | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. | Varies by location; check for signs |
Left Turn: General
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
malta:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Denmark | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
denmark:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Denmark | 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
denmark:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Denmark | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; carried out by the police | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
denmark:
Can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Denmark | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking any exit other than first | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
malta:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
denmark:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Denmark | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
denmark:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Denmark | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free required | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and possible license points | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay