Driving in Malta vs Paraguay: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Malta and Paraguay, travelers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. From lane usage to speed limits, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Notably, Malta drives on the left, while Paraguay adheres to the right, highlighting a fundamental divergence in roadway navigation.
Lanes
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
paraguay:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
paraguay:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
paraguay:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
malta:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
paraguay:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on vehicle 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
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| 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 | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
malta:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 911 |
| 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 | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| 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; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
paraguay:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days