Driving Differences: Malta vs Peru for Safe Travels
When exploring the roads of Malta and Peru, it's crucial to understand the unique regulations and practices each country employs. Notably, Malta drives on the left while Peru adheres to right-side travel. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage vary significantly, making it essential for travelers to familiarize themselves with these driving norms to ensure a safe journey abroad.
Lanes
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
peru:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
peru:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
peru:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
peru:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
peru:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
peru:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
peru:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
peru:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
peru:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
peru:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
peru:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
peru:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
peru:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Peru |
| 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: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
malta:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
peru:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
peru:
Not used in Peru
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
peru:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Typically displayed on vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
peru:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Often used more compared to some countries |
| 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
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 widely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
peru:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
peru:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
peru:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
peru:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; fines can be significant |
| 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, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
peru:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay