Driving in Malta vs. Serbia: Key Differences Uncovered
Explore the fascinating contrasts in road regulations and practices between Malta and Serbia. Notably, Malta drives on the left while Serbia adheres to the right. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage rules vary significantly, influencing safety and navigation for travelers. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
serbia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
serbia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
serbia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
malta:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Typically around €50, points may apply | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay