Driving in Finland vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
When traveling from Finland to Malta, understanding the contrasting road regulations and practices is crucial for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides of the road, varying speed limits, and unique signage. Familiarizing yourself with these disparities ensures a safer and more enjoyable driving experience in each country.
Lanes
| Finland | 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
finland:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
finland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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
finland:
30-40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Finland | 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 commonly used | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
finland:
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
finland:
Not commonly used
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Finland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Finland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Finland | 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
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Finland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
finland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Finland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | 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, typically €85 | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay