Driving in Malta vs. Panama: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Malta and Panama, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. Notably, Malta drives on the left while Panama adheres to the right. Additionally, varying speed limits and traffic protocols highlight the importance of understanding these contrasts for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 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 | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
panama:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
panama:
Common
Signals
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Panama |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Spanish; 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.
panama:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
panama:
Generally not allowed
Documentation
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malta:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; $50 to $150, 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 | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| 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
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay