Driving in Israel vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Israel and Malta, understanding the distinct rules and regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key variations include driving sides—right in Israel and left in Malta—as well as unique speed limits and lane usage. Explore these essential driving contrasts to ensure your travels abroad are secure and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Israel | 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 | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
israel:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
israel:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
israel:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Israel | 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 | Used before green light. | Not used in Malta |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
israel:
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
israel:
Used before green light.
malta:
Not used in Malta
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Israel | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Israel | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate 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
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Israel | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Israel | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | 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
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay