Driving Differences: Malta vs. Nepal Explained
When navigating the roads of Malta and Nepal, understanding each region's unique regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and emergency contact numbers. While Malta employs a more structured approach to lane markings and bus lanes, Nepal emphasizes stringent alcohol limits. Prepare yourself for a smooth ride by knowing these crucial variations.
Lanes
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
nepal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
malta:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| 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 Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
malta:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
nepal:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| 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 | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Lane Usage: Left
malta:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| 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 | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, common practice |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
nepal:
Yes, common practice