Driving Differences: Malta vs New Zealand Explained
Discover the essential driving distinctions between Malta and New Zealand to enhance your travel experience. From speed limits and lane markings to traffic regulations and road etiquette, understanding these key variations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate confidently in both countries.
Lanes
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Marks the right 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 right. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 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 | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | English; 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.
new zealand:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
malta:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
malta:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
malta:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
malta:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
new zealand:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, 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 | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay