Driving Differences: India vs Malta Explained
When navigating the roads of India and Malta, drivers encounter notable distinctions that impact their travel experience. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol regulations, understanding these variances is essential for a secure journey. Discover how these two countries differ in their driving customs and regulations to enhance your safety while abroad.
Lanes
| India | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
india:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
malta:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| India | 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 India | Not used in Malta |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | 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
india:
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
india:
Not used in India
malta:
Not used in Malta
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
malta:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| India | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
malta:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| India | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
malta:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
malta:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | 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 in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
malta:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| India | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | 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 | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay