Driving in Malta vs. South Korea: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the unique road regulations of Malta and South Korea, you'll discover significant contrasts that impact travel safety. From driving sides and lane usage to speed limits and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is vital for a secure experience on foreign roads. Prepare for a journey that highlights what makes each country's driving culture distinct.
Lanes
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| 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 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
south korea:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
malta:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
south korea:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory; proof 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
malta:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| 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 |
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; fines and license points given |
| 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 and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
south korea:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay