Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Ivory Coast and Malta, travelers will encounter notable distinctions in their driving regulations and practices. With Ivory Coast adhering to right-hand traffic and Malta to the left, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey. From speed limits to traffic signals, this comparison unveils essential insights for safe navigation abroad.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | 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 | 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 | Typically 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, but limited in urban areas. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
ivory coast:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ivory coast:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
ivory coast:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | 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 |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ivory coast:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Ivory coast | 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 Ivory Coast | Not used in Malta |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; 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
ivory coast:
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
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
malta:
Not used in Malta
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
malta:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Ivory coast | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
malta:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Ivory coast | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
ivory coast:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 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: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, 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 | Varies, points may apply | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay