Driving in Dominican Republic vs. Malta: Key Differences
Driving in the Dominican Republic and Malta presents distinct regulations and practices that every traveler should understand. While the Dominican Republic follows right-side driving, Malta adheres to the left. Key differences include speed limits, road markings, and the use of emergency signals, emphasizing the importance of adapting to each nation's unique road culture for a safe journey.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | 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 | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
dominican republic:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
malta:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Dominican republic | 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 Dominican Republic | Not used in Malta |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| 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
dominican republic:
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
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
malta:
Not used in Malta
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
malta:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Dominican republic | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | 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: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
malta:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Dominican republic | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | 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 | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay