Driving in Lithuania vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Lithuania and Malta, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journeys. Key differences include driving sides—right in Lithuania and left in Malta—speed limits, and lane usage. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a safe and smooth driving experience in each country.
Lanes
| Lithuania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separation of opposing traffic directions. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Passing permitted with caution. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; 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
lithuania:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
lithuania:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
lithuania:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
lithuania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
lithuania:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Lithuania | 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 |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, issued by police. | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
lithuania:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
lithuania:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
lithuania:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
lithuania:
130 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
lithuania:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
lithuania:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Lithuania | 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 | Indicates prepared to start | Not used in Malta |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Lithuanian; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
lithuania:
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
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
malta:
Not used in Malta
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Lithuania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Lithuania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual check | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or 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
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
lithuania:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Lithuania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
lithuania:
Common practice
malta:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
lithuania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Lithuania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, particularly at night and weekends | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on BAC level | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Results in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
lithuania:
0.04%
malta:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
lithuania:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
lithuania:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
malta:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Lithuania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
lithuania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Lithuania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | 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
lithuania:
112
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
lithuania:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Lithuania | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines apply | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, by police | 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
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
lithuania:
Fines apply
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
lithuania:
Yes, by police
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay