Driving Differences: Kuwait vs Malta Explained
When navigating the roads of Kuwait and Malta, understanding their distinct driving regulations is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Key variations include driving sides—right in Kuwait versus left in Malta—along with differing speed limits and alcohol restrictions. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances can significantly enhance your travel experience and safety abroad.
Lanes
| Kuwait | 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 | Not commonly practiced. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kuwait:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
kuwait:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
kuwait:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kuwait:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 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 | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
120 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kuwait:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Kuwait | 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 | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | 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
kuwait:
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
kuwait:
Not used
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Kuwait | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless signs allow | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Kuwait | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | 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 | Annual inspection required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kuwait:
Not mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | 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
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kuwait | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Possible for severe offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
malta:
Possible for severe offenses
Roundabouts
| Kuwait | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
kuwait:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Kuwait | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay