💡 Lights, horn, tunnels and bad weather
When to use dipped, main-beam, fog and hazard lights, why flashing headlights is not a signal, horn rules, Malta's tunnels, and driving in rain, wind, glare and darkness.
Your lights
| Light | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Side lights (parking lights) | Only when parked where required; not enough for driving. |
| Dipped headlights | From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, in tunnels, and whenever visibility is poor (rain, heavy cloud, dust). |
| Main beam (bright lights) | On dark, unlit roads with no one ahead. Dip them for oncoming traffic, when following another vehicle, and in lit streets. |
| Front/rear fog lights | Only when visibility is seriously reduced (generally under 100 m). Switch off as soon as it improves — they dazzle others and hide your brake lights. |
| Hazard warning lights | When you are stopped and causing an obstruction (breakdown, accident), or briefly to warn drivers behind of a hazard ahead. Never as an excuse to park illegally. |
The horn
Use the horn only to warn others of your presence when there is danger. Do not use it in anger, to greet friends, or to hurry someone. Avoid using it in built-up areas at night, except to avoid danger, and never sound it at a stationary vehicle unless it is a real hazard.
Tunnels
Malta's main road tunnels include those at Santa Venera and Kappara. Rules:
- Switch on dipped headlights before entering.
- Take off your sunglasses before you enter: you suddenly go from bright sun to dark, and your eyes need time to adjust.
- No overtaking and no changing lanes unless signed.
- Keep a safe distance; never stop or reverse in a tunnel except in an emergency.
- If you break down: hazard lights on, engine off, and use the emergency phones/exits.
Rain and aquaplaning
In rain, double your following gap (4 seconds), use dipped headlights and wipers, and brake earlier and more gently. The first rain after a dry spell is especially slippery in Malta. Deep standing water can cause aquaplaning: the tyres ride on a layer of water and lose contact with the road. The steering feels light and nothing happens when you turn.
- Do not brake or steer sharply.
- Ease off the accelerator gently and hold the steering wheel straight.
- Let the car slow down until the tyres grip again.
- Afterwards, test your brakes gently, as they may be wet.
Avoid driving through flooded roads (common in Msida, Birkirkara valleys and Qormi in heavy storms). You cannot see how deep the water is, and the car can stall or float.
Wind
Strong gusts are common on exposed coastal and ridge roads. They affect cyclists, motorcyclists, high-sided vans and caravans most. Give them extra space, and hold the wheel firmly when passing gaps between buildings or leaving a sheltered area.
Sun glare
Low sun in the morning and late afternoon can blind you, especially on east-west roads. Keep the windscreen clean inside and out, use the sun visor, wear sunglasses (except in tunnels), and slow down. Remember drivers coming towards you may not see you either.
Night driving
- Your vision is reduced: drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance lit by your headlights.
- When dazzled by oncoming lights, look slightly to the left edge of the road and slow down.
- Pedestrians in dark clothes and cyclists without lights are hard to see.
- Tiredness is more likely at night — take a break if you feel sleepy.
