Driving in Indonesia vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the distinct driving regulations between Indonesia and Malta reveals fascinating contrasts in road culture and safety practices. While Indonesia boasts more lenient speed limits and a vibrant lane structure, Malta emphasizes stricter alcohol limits and formal vehicle inspections. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Indonesia | 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
indonesia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Indonesia | 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 Indonesia | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
indonesia:
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
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Indonesia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | 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 required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| 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 | Varies by region; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Indonesia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
indonesia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 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 in case of breakdown | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | 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 | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay