Driving in Ireland vs Malta: Key Differences Explained

When navigating the roads of Ireland and Malta, travelers must be aware of notable distinctions in regulations and practices. Key variations include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signaling. Understanding these contrasts ensures a safer and more enjoyable driving experience as you explore these vibrant destinations.

irelandmalta

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in ireland is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in ireland is 92

1.868 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for ireland is 1.868 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Ireland	Malta
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks areas where passing is not allowed.	Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left	No, overtake on the right.	No
Overtaking: On Right	Yes, standard overtaking side.	Yes
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: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

ireland:

Marks areas where passing is not allowed.

malta:

Marks the left edge on some divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

ireland:

Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

malta:

Often used to indicate parking restrictions.

Overtaking: On Left

ireland:

No, overtake on the right.

malta:

Overtaking: On Right

ireland:

Yes, standard overtaking side.

malta:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

ireland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

malta:

Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.

Bus Lanes: Markings

ireland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

malta:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Usage

ireland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

malta:

Shared use with caution, marked on roads.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

ireland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

malta:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

ireland:

N/A

malta:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

ireland:

N/A

malta:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Ireland	Malta
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 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	80-90 km/h	70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	120 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	90 km/h	80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	More common; fines can be issued on the spot.	Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

ireland:

30 km/h

malta:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

ireland:

80-100 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

ireland:

80-100 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

ireland:

80-90 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

ireland:

120 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

ireland:

100 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

ireland:

90 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

ireland:

N/A

malta:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

ireland:

More common; fines can be issued on the spot.

malta:

Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation

Signals

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	Ireland	Malta
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Indicates the light is about to turn green.	Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language	English; symbols are standard	English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangles with red borders	Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

ireland:

Indicates the light is about to turn green.

malta:

Not used in Malta

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

ireland:

Signal when entering and exiting

malta:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

ireland:

Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.

malta:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

Traffic Signs: Language

ireland:

English; symbols are standard

malta:

English and Maltese; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

ireland:

Triangles with red borders

malta:

Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.

Turns

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	Ireland		Malta
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Varies by location; check for signs

U- Turns Allowed

ireland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

malta:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Ireland	Malta
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.	Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Required	Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory, but recommended	Recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

ireland:

Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.

malta:

Annual vehicle inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

ireland:

Displayed on the windshield

malta:

Displayed on license plate or windshield.

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

ireland:

Required

malta:

Recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

ireland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

malta:

Recommended

Alcohol

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	Ireland	Malta
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Random breath testing is common.	Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Reasonably enforced; can be substantial

Limits: Underage Drivers

ireland:

0.00%; zero tolerance

malta:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

ireland:

Random breath testing is common.

malta:

Common; checkpoints used in some areas

Enforcement: Fines

ireland:

Varies; can be substantial

malta:

Reasonably enforced; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Ireland		Malta
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

ireland:

Signal right when preparing to exit

malta:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Ireland	Malta
Contact: General Emergency	112 or 999	112
Contact: Traffic Police	112 or 999	112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland	Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Required	Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory, but recommended	Recommended but not mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

ireland:

112 or 999

malta:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

ireland:

112 or 999

malta:

112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

ireland:

Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland

malta:

Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

ireland:

Required

malta:

Recommended but not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

ireland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

malta:

Recommended but not mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Ireland	Malta
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €80 to €120, and 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	€60 fine and two penalty points	Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	€60 fine and three penalty points	Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€80 and three penalty points	Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines can be issued on the spot	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

ireland:

Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license

malta:

Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

ireland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

malta:

Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

ireland:

€60 fine and two penalty points

malta:

Typically around €50, points may apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

ireland:

€60 fine and three penalty points

malta:

Typically around €100, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

ireland:

€80 and three penalty points

malta:

Typically around €100, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

ireland:

Possible; fines can be issued on the spot

malta:

Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail

Payment: Deadline

ireland:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

malta:

Varies; typically 15 days to pay