Driving in Malta vs Tunisia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Malta and Tunisia, understanding the contrasting traffic norms is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving sides—left in Malta and right in Tunisia—as well as varying speed limits and lane etiquette. Explore these crucial variations to ensure a safer driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | N/A |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; 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.
tunisia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; proof may be 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
malta:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| 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
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| 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 | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay