Driving Differences: Estonia vs. Malta Explained
When traversing the roads of Estonia and Malta, understanding their unique regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving sides—right in Estonia versus left in Malta—and differing speed limits, with urban zones in Estonia capped at 30 km/h compared to Malta’s 50 km/h. This guide delves into these essential contrasts to promote safe travel.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
estonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Estonia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| 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 Estonia | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; 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: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
malta:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
estonia:
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
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Estonia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Estonia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Estonia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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 | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | 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 | Fines apply, points on license | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay