Driving in Italy vs. Malta: Key Differences for Safety
The driving landscape in Italy and Malta presents intriguing contrasts that every traveler should know. With Italy favoring right-side driving and Malta adhering to the left, these nations differ significantly in road markings, speed limits, and navigational protocols. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Italy | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | 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 |
| 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
italy:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
italy:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Signals
| Italy | 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; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
italy:
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
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Italy | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Italy | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Italy | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Italy | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | 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 | Varies; fines apply | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay