Driving Differences: Malta vs. Philippines Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between Malta and the Philippines. From varying speed limits and lane usage to distinct signaling protocols, this comparison highlights essential distinctions that impact safety on the roads. Stay informed and drive wisely as you navigate these two unique driving environments.
Lanes
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
philippines:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
philippines:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
philippines:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
malta:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
malta:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
philippines:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Insurance
malta:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Roundabouts
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
philippines:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| 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 | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
philippines:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance