Driving Differences: Egypt vs Malta for Safe Travels
When navigating the roads of Egypt and Malta, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that are essential for ensuring safety. From the contrasting sides of the road—right in Egypt and left in Malta—to diverse speed limits and signaling protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for a secure driving experience abroad. Explore the key distinctions to drive with confidence in either country.
Lanes
| Egypt | 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
egypt:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
egypt:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 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 | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Egypt | 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 Egypt | Not used in Malta |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
egypt:
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
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
malta:
Not used in Malta
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
malta:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
malta:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
malta:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
malta:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
malta:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Egypt | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Egypt | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 | Mandatory annual inspection | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
malta:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
malta:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
malta:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
malta:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Egypt | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
egypt:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 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 | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay