Driving in Malta vs. Monaco: Key Safety Differences
When traveling from Malta to Monaco, understanding the nuances of road regulations can significantly enhance your journey. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Malta versus the right in Monaco, varying speed limits, and distinct rules regarding lane usage. Familiarizing yourself with these essential aspects ensures a safer and more enjoyable experience on the roads.
Lanes
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
monaco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
monaco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common for traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
monaco:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malta | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
monaco:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
monaco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
monaco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
monaco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Typically around €50, points may apply | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
monaco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon