Driving Differences: Malta vs. Netherlands
Exploring the driving landscapes of Malta and the Netherlands reveals distinct contrasts that every traveler should acknowledge. From lane usage and speed regulations to traffic signals and penalties, understanding these variations is vital for ensuring safety while navigating foreign roads. Discover how these two nations prioritize road etiquette and vehicle regulations uniquely.
Lanes
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
netherlands:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
netherlands:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
netherlands:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
netherlands:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Netherlands |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Dutch; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
netherlands:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
netherlands:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
malta:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
netherlands:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
netherlands:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| 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 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
netherlands:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required