Driving in Ghana vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the roads of Ghana and Malta, significant distinctions emerge in their traffic regulations and practices. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and unique lane designs, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Prepare for a safer and more informed driving experience when navigating through these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Ghana | 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 | Generally not advised. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ghana:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
ghana:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ghana:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Ghana | 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 in Ghana | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ghana:
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
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Ghana | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Ghana | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ghana:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Ghana | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
ghana:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 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 | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ghana:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | 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 | Moderate fines | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | 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
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay