Driving in Malta vs. Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Malta and Venezuela, understanding the key distinctions in traffic regulations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. From driving on opposite sides—left in Malta and right in Venezuela—to varying speed limits and unique road markings, this comparison illuminates crucial aspects to keep in mind while driving abroad.
Lanes
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
venezuela:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malta:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
venezuela:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malta:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 171 |
| 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | Fines applicable |
| 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 | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay