Driving in Estonia vs. Maldives: Key Safety Differences
Discover the fascinating contrasts in road regulations between Estonia and the Maldives. From driving sides to speed limits, these nations exhibit significant variations in their traffic rules. While Estonia mandates a right-side drive with specific lane usages, the Maldives follows left-side driving, emphasizing unique road markings and enforcement strategies. Stay informed for safer travels abroad!
Lanes
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, when safe and legal. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May be designated with road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Minimal |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Usually not specifically marked in many areas. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not applicable |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
maldives:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
maldives:
Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
estonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
maldives:
Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
maldives:
No
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
maldives:
Yes, when safe and legal.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
maldives:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
maldives:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
maldives:
Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
maldives:
May be designated with road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
maldives:
Minimal
Cycle Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
maldives:
Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
maldives:
Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
maldives:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
maldives:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
maldives:
30 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
maldives:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
maldives:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
maldives:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
maldives:
Common
Signals
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not commonly used in Maldives |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Country-specific shapes and colors |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
maldives:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
maldives:
Not commonly used in Maldives
Horn Usage: Allowed
estonia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
maldives:
Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
maldives:
Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
maldives:
Country-specific shapes and colors
Turns
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed unless signed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated |
| Special Turn Lanes | Yes, marked with arrows | Limited, mainly at main intersections |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
maldives:
Not allowed unless signed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
maldives:
Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
Special Turn Lanes
estonia:
Yes, marked with arrows
maldives:
Limited, mainly at main intersections
Documentation
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Usually displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
maldives:
Periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
maldives:
Usually displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
estonia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
maldives:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
maldives:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
maldives:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
maldives:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
maldives:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
maldives:
Fines can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
Lane Usage: Right
estonia:
Use for first exit or straight
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Lane Usage: Left
estonia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Contact local police for traffic issues |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
maldives:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
maldives:
Contact local police for traffic issues
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; fines start from MVR 750 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically within a specified time |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
maldives:
Varies; fines start from MVR 750
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
maldives:
Severe penalties including license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
maldives:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
maldives:
Fines for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
maldives:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
maldives:
Possible for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
maldives:
Varies; typically within a specified time