Driving in Iceland vs Malta: Safety Tips & Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Iceland and Malta in this comprehensive comparison. While Icelanders navigate on the right side of the road, Maltese motorists drive left. Explore crucial variations, including speed limits, signaling practices, and road etiquette, ensuring a safer journey as you travel abroad.
Lanes
| Iceland | 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 |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
malta:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
iceland:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Iceland | 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 | N/A | Not used in Malta |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
iceland:
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
iceland:
N/A
malta:
Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
malta:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
malta:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
malta:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Iceland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | 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 | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | 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
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
malta:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | 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 | Mandatory; fines apply | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay