Driving in Georgia vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the driving landscapes of Georgia and Malta, notable distinctions emerge that can impact traveler safety. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol regulations and emergency protocols, it's crucial for drivers to understand these variations. This guide highlights essential driving practices in both countries to ensure a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Georgia | 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 |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
georgia:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
georgia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
georgia:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
malta:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Georgia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 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: Standard
georgia:
30-50 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
georgia:
20-40 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
georgia:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
110-120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
georgia:
100-110 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
90-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
georgia:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Georgia | 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 | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Georgian; 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: Flashing Amber
georgia:
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
georgia:
Not used
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Georgia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Georgia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required; proof may be required | 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 |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Georgia | 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
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Georgia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
georgia:
0.03%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Georgia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
georgia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Georgia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
georgia:
112
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Georgia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL | 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 | 50 GEL | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 10 GEL | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 200 GEL | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; but usually paid later | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
georgia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
georgia:
50 GEL
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
georgia:
10 GEL
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
georgia:
200 GEL
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay