Driving in El Salvador vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and Malta, drivers encounter notable contrasts in regulations and practices. From lane usage to speed limits, each country offers unique insights into road etiquette and safety. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a smooth and secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| El salvador | 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: 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 |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
el salvador:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 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 | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
malta:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| El salvador | 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 common in El Salvador | Not used in Malta |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
el salvador:
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
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
malta:
Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
malta:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| El salvador | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| El salvador | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | 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 | $20 to $50 | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay