Driving in Latvia vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the distinct road regulations of Latvia and Malta, drivers will uncover vital contrasts that impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed restrictions to alcohol limits and emergency protocols, understanding these nuances is essential for safe navigation in each country. Prepare for a smoother journey by familiarizing yourself with these key variations.
Lanes
| Latvia | 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; generally only when the lane is clear. | 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
latvia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
latvia:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
latvia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | 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 | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 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 | Common; fines are often issued immediately | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
latvia:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Latvia | 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 Latvia | Not used in Malta |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
latvia:
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
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
malta:
Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
malta:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Latvia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
malta:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Latvia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 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 | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay