Road signs, markings and signals
Road signs, markings and signals
This section tests whether you can read the road ahead from signs, painted markings and signals without hesitation. Malta follows the Vienna Convention shapes, so the outline of a sign tells you its job before you read the symbol inside it.
Sign families
- Red triangle, point up - warning (bend, junction, slippery surface, pedestrians).
- Red circle - prohibition or restriction (speed limit, no entry, no overtaking, no motorcycles).
- Blue circle - mandatory instruction (turn left, minimum speed, route for pedal cycles).
- Blue rectangle - information or facility (parking, hospital, one-way).
- Octagon - STOP, the only sign demanding a complete halt.
- Inverted triangle - give way. A small rectangular plate beneath a sign qualifies it (times, distance, vehicle type); ignore it and you answer the question wrongly.
Markings
A continuous white centre line may not be crossed. Double continuous lines forbid crossing from either side. Broken lines may be crossed when safe. A solid white stop line at traffic lights or a STOP sign requires a full stop; the double broken line means give way. Yellow box junctions must not be entered unless your exit is clear. Yellow lines restrict parking and waiting.
Signals
Traffic lights override signs but a police officer or warden overrides the lights. A flashing amber at a pedestrian crossing means give way to anyone on the crossing. Indicators and hand signals are intentions, not rights of way.
Worked example
You approach a red circle containing a motorcycle with a red diagonal bar, mounted above a plate reading '7.00–19.00'. The shape tells you it is a prohibition, the symbol tells you it applies to motorcycles, and the plate restricts it to those hours - so the restriction is not in force outside that window.
Traps that cost marks
- Confusing 'no entry' (red circle, white bar) with 'no vehicles'.
- Treating a give-way line as a stop line or rolling through a stop line.
- Reading the main sign but missing the supplementary plate.
- Obeying old markings instead of temporary yellow ones at roadworks.