Driving in Malta vs. Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
Discover the crucial distinctions in road regulations and practices between Malta and Sri Lanka. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol restrictions and emergency contacts, this comparison highlights significant variations that can impact your journey. Understanding these contrasting norms is essential for ensuring your safety and compliance while driving abroad.
Lanes
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Marks the right 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 Right | Yes | Allowed when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
sri lanka:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
malta:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit 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 | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not 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
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malta:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; expect 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 applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay