Driving Differences: Malta vs Russia Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in vehicular regulations between Malta and Russia, as this comparison delves into lane usage, speed limits, and road etiquette. From driving sides to alcohol limits, understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure journey abroad. Equip yourself with knowledge to navigate the roads safely in both countries.
Lanes
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
russia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
russia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20 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 | 70-80 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 | 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 | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Russia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Russian; 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.
russia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
russia:
Not used in Russia
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| 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
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
russia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.035% |
| 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, especially in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malta:
0.05%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
russia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
russia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
russia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| 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 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay