1. The road is normally made up of a carriageway and one or two
sidewalks (pavements). The carriageway is meant for vehicles and the sidewalks
are meant for pedestrians. Outside built-up areas, pavements are generally
replaced by hard shoulders usually demarcated by a continuous white line.
2. Carriageways and pavements are primarily intended
for moving rather than stationary vehicles and pedestrians. Stationary
vehicles should not obstruct moving vehicles. Similarly pedestrians should not
obstruct pavements.
3. Carriageways are sometimes divided into lanes by
means of broken white lines, or into two halves, one for each direction of
traffic, by means of double white lines, continuous or broken. Where no such
line is marked a notional line passing through the usable part of the road is
deemed to be the dividing line between the two directions of traffic.
4. Dual carriageway roads have a separate carriageway
for each direction of traffic divided by a centre strip or reservation. No
vehicle may use such carriageways against the traffic flow.
5. Traffic islands are meant to assist traffic flow at
a junction. Follow the indications given at the approach of such islands.
6. A roundabout is a specific type of traffic island.
This is not necessarily circular but is an island designated as such by means
of the 'Roundabout' sign at its approaches. It is important to look out for
such signs as the normal rules of right of way may be modified at roundabouts.
Roundabouts may vary in size and methods of construction. From 1-4 metres in
diameter,
they may be painted on the carriageway, or be made of
mountable section. Over 4 metres in diameter they will normally be of non
mountable construction.
7. Roads in Malta are usually sign-posted by means of
international traffic signs, but where there are no signs, the normal rules of
prudence and courtesy should be observed.
8. The limits of built-up areas are marked by means of
the relative town or village name signpost, or by a specific speed limitation
sign. However, any aggregation of houses inhabited or capable of being
inhabited by at least one hundred persons constitutes an inhabited area and a
maximum speed of 50kph.
9. When a through road is flanked by service roads, so
that building development does not front directly on it, the through road is
considered as lying outside the built-up area.
10. As a rule major roads are those designated as such
by means of the 'Priority Road' sign and minor roads those with a 'Stop' or
'Give Way' sign with the appropriate white line painted across the
carriageway. If in doubt treat the other road as the major road.
11. As a rule, a road is available to all road users
indiscriminately and in both directions, but certain roads are reserved to
particular classes of road users or to a particular direction of travel.
12. The road is the place where a person's real
manners, be he a motorist or a pedestrian, are put to the test. Practice road
courtesy. Hardly any accidents take place that are not caused or contributed
to, directly or indirectly, by lack of road courtesy.
