Driving in Malta vs. Morocco: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Malta and Morocco, drivers encounter striking contrasts in regulations and practices. From differing lane usage and speed limits to unique traffic signals and enforcement policies, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Explore the comprehensive comparison to enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
morocco:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
morocco:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
morocco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| 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 Malta | Not used in Morocco |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
malta:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
morocco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on the windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malta:
0.05%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
morocco:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
morocco:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
morocco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; can be 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 | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay