Driving in Malta vs. Vanuatu: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in motoring regulations between Malta and Vanuatu. While Malta drives on the left and enforces various speed limits, Vanuatu adopts right-side driving with lower urban speed thresholds. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| 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. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
vanuatu:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
vanuatu:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
vanuatu:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
vanuatu:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
malta:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | English; 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.
vanuatu:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Insurance
malta:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
malta:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Roundabouts
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vanuatu:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| 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: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| 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 for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; or through police stations |
| 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
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
vanuatu:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay