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Highway Code
MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER
RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORT
The Highway Code is an important source of information
for all road users and it is a must that everyone should
have a copy of it. The contents of this booklet, if read
and properly understood and followed, should lead to a
marked reduction in the number of road traffic accidents
experienced every year in Malawi. The unnecessary
accidents on our roads, which have led to death, injury
and property damage, costing the country billions of
kwacha annually, are a result of negligence and
ignorance. The Highway Code, therefore, attempts to
address some of the problems faced by pedestrians,
passengers, drivers, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists and
other road users.

Another major cause of accidents is alcohol consumption.

A drunken driver, pedestrian, pedal cyclist or motorcyclist
is a danger to himself and others on the road because
alcohol affects judgement, reaction, memory and
coordination. It is advisable that one must refrain from
drinking alcohol before using the road. Long hours behind
the wheel or driver fatigue also leads to accidents involving
motorists. A driver should have a good rest before
driving.

In order to instil discipline and enhance safety on our

roads, the general public is encouraged to buy a copy
of this new Highway Code from the National Road Safety
Council of Malawi and share the information in it.

ARRIVE ALIVE
Hon. Khumbo Kachali, MP
Highway Code
Highway Code
Highway Code
CONTENTS

Highway Code
CONTENTS

Highway Code
 PART ONE

Highway Code
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PEDESTRIAN

Playing on the road is dangerous

Highway Code 1
 Do not sell products on the road

Cross the road at a pedestrian crossing

2 Highway Code
 Before
you
cross the
road,
check
right,
left and
right
again.

Highway Code 3
 Wait for a green man to appear before crossing

4 Highway Code
Highway Code 5
6 Highway Code
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PASSENGER

Avoid throwing any object from a vehicle

Highway Code 7
 Do not let any part of your body protrude from a vehicle

Jumping off a moving vehicle is dangerous

8 Highway Code
 Wait until the bus has moved to cross
n Do not put children on your lap when seated on the front
passenger seat of a car.

Children must be harnessed in the vehicle

Highway Code 9
10 Highway Code
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROAD USER ON WHEELS

Highway Code 11
12 Highway Code
 Check the condition of your tyres before setting off

Avoid using tyres with

lumps or bulges

Highway Code 13
 Use
specified
rear
view
mirrors

Vehicle causing excessive noise may not be driven on a public road

14 Highway Code
 MINI
CODE AGE DESCRIPTION

Highway Code 15
CATEGORY MIN-AGE

Always carry your Driving

Licence with you

16 Highway Code
 Cross an intersection without obstructing others

Choose the correct lane in advance before turning or proceeding

Highway Code 17
 Correctly position your vehicle before the turn

Position vehicle near to the centre line for right turn

18 Highway Code
 Take care
when
turning
right
across
traffic into
a side road

Consider cyclists before turning left

Highway Code 19
 Remember to give way to pedestrians

Be careful when reversing

20 Highway Code
 Avoid reversing into a major road

Highway Code 21
 Only
overtake
when your
view of the
road is
clear

Leave enough space when overtaking

22 Highway Code
 Avoid passing too close to cyclists
when overtaking

Highway Code 23
 Park in a
well lit area
at night

24 Highway Code
Highway Code 25
 Keep a two-seconds gap between your vehicle and a vehicle ahead

26 Highway Code
 STOPPING DISTANCE CHART
Speed Thinking Stopping Total
(km/h) distance distance distance
30 6m 6m 12 m
45 9m 14 m 23 m
60 12 m 24 m 36 m
80 15 m 38 m 53 m
95 18 m 55 m 73 m
110 21 m 75 m 96 m
Braking + Stopping Distance Table

Highway Code 27
 EXTRA RULES FOR MOTOR CYCLES,
QUADRUCYCLES, TRICYCLES
AND PEDAL CYCLES

28 Highway Code
 Do not carry anything in front of you on a bicycle

Highway Code 29
 Signal and position your bicycle in advance

It is safer to cross intersections on foot

30 Highway Code
 Watch out for adverse road conditions

Highway Code 31
ANIMALS AND ANIMAL DRAWN VEHICLES

Ensure the safety of animals and traffic

32 Highway Code
Highway Code 33
 RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSING

STOP

Approach a level crossing (St. Andrews’ Cross) cautiously

34 Highway Code
 EMERGENCY MOTOR VEHICLES

Do not overtake emergency vehicles

Highway Code 35
 MOTORWAYS/FREEWAYS

36 Highway Code
Take note of all signs that you see on a freeway/motorway

Yellow lines prohibit stopping

Highway Code 37
Ensure the safety of passengers while waiting for assistance

38 Highway Code
FIRST AID AND GENERAL SAFETY TIPS

Highway Code 39
40 Highway Code
 Ensure
good
visibility
at night

Highway Code 41
TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND TRAFFIC SIGNS

PART TWO

Highway Code
 DRIVERS AND RIDERS SIGNALS

(Always remember to signal in good time and clearly )

“I am
ready
to be
over-
taken ”

“I am
SLOW-
ING
down or
intend
to
stop”

“I
intend
to
move
out or
Turn to
my
right”

“I
intend
to
TURN
to my
left”

Highway Code 45
 TRAFFIC SIGNALS
. The directions of a Traffic Officer always take precedence over
any road sign, signal or surface marking.

Beckoning on traffic Traffic approaching

from the side—GO from behind —STOP

Traffic approaching Traffic approaching

from front and be- from front—STOP
hind—STOP
FLAG SIGNALS

Stop Warning Proceed

. Any instruction conveyed by a road sign or surface marking

must be obeyed unless directed otherwise by a Traffic Officer
or Police Officer in uniform.

46 Highway Code
VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION/IDENTIFICATION

Ambulance and Police vehicle Animal-drawn

emergency vehicle vehicle

Motor car Taxi Bus

Midi-bus Mini-bus Delivery

vehicle

t
Goods Goods vehicle Hazardous
vehicle (+GVM) substances vehicle

Pedal cycle Motor cycle

Handicapped Abnormal
persons vehicle vehicle

Agricultural Construction
vehicle vehicle

Highway Code 47
 Regulatory signs/
Control signs

STOP GO

Stop Go Yield

No entry One-way road Pedestrian

priority

COMMAND SIGNS indicate action that must be taken

and vehicle classes that must act; other classes must not.

Permanent Temporary

Minimum Vehicles exceeding Keep left

speed mass only

Keep right Proceed Proceed Proceed

left only right only straight only

Turn left Turn right Pedestrians only

T
Pedal cycles and Pay toll Switch head
pedestrians only lamps on

48 Highway Code
 PROHIBITION SIGNS
indicating maximum
limits that must not be
exceeded.
(Permanent) (Temporary)
PROHIBITION SIGNS
indicating actions
that must not be
taken or vehicle
classes that are not
allowed on a road or (Permanent) (Temporary)
part of a road.

National speed
limits apply Camera used
to check speed
2 t
100 12 t 4.42

Speed limit Mass limit Axle mass Height limit

load limit

15 m
Length limit Excessive Hitch-hiking Unauthorized
noise prohibited vehicles
prohibited prohibited

Left turn ahead Right turn ahead Left turn Right turn
prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited

P
U-turn Overtaking Overtaking by Parking
prohibited prohibited goods vehicles prohibited
prohibited

S
Stopping Pedestrians Pedal cycle National
prohibited prohibited or pedestrian serviceman
prohibited prohibited

Highway Code 49
 Many intersections are controlled by traffic lights:

STEADY RED LIGHT:

Stop before the white
Stop line.

FLASHING RED LIGHT:

Stop and proceed if it is
safe to do so.

FLASHING RED ARROW:

Stop, then proceed left if
it is safe to do so (the arrow
always points left).

STEADY AMBER LIGHT:

Slow down and stop.

FLASHING AMBER LIGHT:

Slow down, then proceed if
it is safe to do so. Yeld to
other vehicles if necessary.

STEADY AMBER ARROW:

Stop and wait for a green
light before proceeding.

GREEN LIGHT:
Proceed.

50 Highway Code
 STEADY GREEN ARROW:
Proceed only in the direction
of the arrow, subject to any
road sign. Yield to vehicles
or pedestrians.

FLASHING GREEN ARROW

Proceed in the direction
of the arrow.

STEADY RED MAN:

Pedestrians should not
cross the road.

STEADY GREEN MAN:

Pedestrians may cross the
road and have right of way
over vehicles.

FLASHING RED MAN:

Pedestrians should not enter
the crossing.

Right of way of pedestrians

Where there is a traffic light at a pedestrian

crossing, a pedestrian may cross the road only
in accordance with its signals.

Right of way must be given to a pedestrian who

is
already on a pedestrian crossing and is on the
same half, or about to enter the same half, of

Highway Code 51
 RESERVATION SIGNS indicate that a road, or part of
a road, is reserved for only certain classes of vehicles
which may make use of it; other classes must not.

P P
R R
(Permanent) (Temporary) (Permanent) (Temporary)

Logo Logo

R R Zone Zone
1 2
Zone Zone
1 2

Bus lane Bus lane begins Bus stop Mini-bus stop

R R R R
Bus and Bus and mini- Bus and midi- Bus and midi-
mini-bus lane bus lane begins bus lane bus lane begins

P
R R P 60 MIN

Bus, midi-bus Bus, midi-bus Parking Limited time

and mini-bus and mini-bus
lane lane begins

COMPREHENSIVE SIGNS indicate that the use of

a road, or part of a road, is subject to comprehensive
regulations and restrictions.

(Permanent) (Temporary)

Dual carriageway Single carriageway Residential area

freeway freeway

52 Highway Code
 DIRECTION SIGNS

Dual carriageway Single carriageway Residential area

freeway freeway

OVERHEAD LANE DIRECTION CONTROL SIGNALS

Steady red cross Steady green

downward-pointing arrow

EXCLUSIVE SECONDARY SIGNS

WEEK
08:00-16:00
07:00-09:00 SAT
06:00-9:00 16:00-18:00 08:00-13:00

One period Two periods Two periods or

time limit time limit days time limit

WEEK 30 MIN
07:00-08:30 WEEK
16:30-18:00 09:00-16:00
SAT SAT 60 MIN
11:30-13:00 08:00-13:00 09:00-16:00

Three periods or Maximum stay Maximum stay

days time limit during two periods or during one period
days time limit time limit

Reduced visibility Day condition Night condition

condition

Highway Code 53
 Reserved Reserved Reserved movement
movement left by movement right by to left and right by
vehicle class vehicle class vehicle class

15
Maximum

Pay-and- Operator Operator Maximum

display identity identity number of
(logo) (words) vehicles

WARNING SIGNS

Crossroad Priority crossroad Secondary

(crossroad shall crossroad (expect
stop or yield) stop or yield)

T-junction Skew T-junction Skew T-junction

Side road junction Side road junction Staggered

from left from right junction

Staggered Sharp junction Sharp junction

junction to left from left

54 Highway Code
 Sharp junction Sharp junction Y-junction
to right from right

End of dual End of dual Beginning of dual

roadway (to right) roadway (to left) roadway (to right)

Beginning of dual Round about Gentle curve

roadway (to left) (to right)

Gentle curve Sharp curve Sharp curve

(to left) (to right) (to left)

Hairpin bend Hairpin bend Winding road

(to right) (to left) (first right)

Winding road Combined curves Combined curves

(first left) (first to right) (first to left)

Two-way traffic Two-way traffic Right lane ends

crossroad

Highway Code 55
 Left lane ends Concealed driveway Concealed driveway
(right) (left)

STOP

Concealed driveways Traffic signals Traffic control

(left and right) ‘stop’ ahead

Traffic control Pedestrian Pedestrians

‘yield’ ahead crossing

Children Cyclists Farm animals

Farm animals Farm animals Wild animals

Gate Motor gate Motor gate

(to right) (to left)

Motor gate Railway crossing Tunnel

(in middle)

56 Highway Code
 4.42
15m

Height restriction Length restriction Steep ascent

Steep descent Slow-moving Gravel road

heavy vehicles begins

Narrow bridge One vehicle-width Road narrows

structure from both sides

Road narrows from Road narrows from Uneven roadway

one side only (right) one side only (left)

Speed humps Slippery road Falling rocks

(from right)

!
Falling rocks General warning Heavy vehicles or
(from left) (any type of construction vehicles
danger ahead) crossing (from left)

Heavy vehicles or Emergency Jetty edge or

construction vehicles flashing light riverbank
crossing (from right)

Highway Code 57
 WIND

Crosswind Drift Low-flying Agricultural

aircraft vehicles

HAZARD MARKER SIGNS

Danger plate Danger plate Railway Double railway

crossing crossing

Sharp curve Sharp curve Sharp curve Sharp curve

chevron (right) chevron (left) chevron (right) chevron (left)

T-junction chevron Dead end or road closed chevron

Robots out of order Robots out of order

INFORMATIVE SIGN
LOCATION SIGNS

T T
River name Toll route name End of toll Dual
route carriageway
freeway name

Single carriageway
freeway name Conservancy

58 Highway Code
 LOCATION SIGNS

SONGWE
KENYATA ROAD
SHIRE
GLYN JONES JENDA

Street names River name National/Regional

LIWONDE

KASUPE

ZOMBA 500M NAMIWAWA

Town names Geographical Suburb name
location

CHILEMBWE M5
T
Freeway name Toll road name

ROUTE MARKER SIGNS

(Permanent) (Temporary)

EXAMPLES OF ROUTE MARKER SIGNS

M14 T M1

A
M3

Highway Code 59
 DIRECTION SIGNS

(Permanent) (Temporary)

FREEWAY DIRECTION SIGNS

(Permanent) (Temporary)

M2 Zomba S151 Makwasa

T420 Sandama
M1 Blantyre
S150 Nansadi
M5 Salima

T318 Nkhata-Bay
Mzuzu
Phwezi M5 Nkhotakota

Advanced direction signs

M5 Nkhata-Bay
LILONGWE
M1 Mzimba
MCHINJI

S121 Nkhoma

Direction signs

M1
Ntaja 63
Chikhwawa 20
Namwera 104
Nchalo 43

M5 Chipoka 10
Salima 25 Mulanje 50
Confirmation signs

Kamuzu Chileka 10 km Sanjika

Academy

4km Nayuchi ZOMBA

Fingerboard signs

60 Highway Code
 DIRECTION/SIGN SYMBOLS

Railway Station Bus terminus Harbour Airport

Heliport City Centre/ Library Mine

CBD

T A
Mine Industrial area Toll Route Alternative route

Dual carriageway Single carriageway Bicycle route Park and ride

freeway way freeway (Train)

L
Park and ride Change to lower gear
(Bus)

TOURISM SIGNS

Police Hospital Telephone

Highway Code 61
 Filling Filling Workshop Tow-in Truck
station and station service services
workshop

Restaurant Refreshments Take-away

Service area Rest area Rest area

Accom-
B+B
Bed and
B
Rooms Caravan Camp site
modation breakfast (bed only) site
facility

National Majete Wildlife Liwonde

Parks Board Reserve National Park

Nyika Fish Farm Mawila

National Hot
Park Spring

Seaside/Beach Inland water

resort/Beach resort/Watersports

62 Highway Code
 Scenic route View point Waterfall Hiking trail

General National Museum Theatre Amphitheatre

tourist monument
attraction

Botanical Wine cellar Mine museum Boat launch/

gardens Watersport

Crocodile Bird park/ Ostrich Ostrich Snake park

farm Sanctuary farm farm

Race course Golf course

P
Parking area Tourist Roadside Shop
information stall/Curio shop

Facility for Toilets Shower Motor car

handicapped wash
people

Highway Code 63
 Picnic area Water Cooking facility Fireplace

Motor Motor cars Caravans Buses Trucks

cycles

DIAGRAMMATIC SIGNS

(Permanent) (Temporary)

500 m
Left lane ends Right lane ends Addition of traffic
lane (1 to 2)

Addition of traffic Diversion Diversion and

lane (2 to 3) of lane addition of lanes

Diversion of traffic Diversion of traffic Converging of

lanes (to left) lanes (to right) traffic lanes

400 m
Converging of traffic Converging of traffic Addition of lane
lanes lanes

64 Highway Code
 60 80 60

Restriction/ Restriction/ Restriction/ Restriction/

prohibition prohibition prohibition prohibition
applicable in applicable in applicable in applicable in
right lane right lane right lane right lane

10t
L For 5km For 5km

Change to Overhead Overhead

lower gear lane prohibition lane prohibition
(heavy vehicles) signs signs

INFORMATION SIGNS

300 m 200 m 100 m

Countdown

Cul-de-sac

Right of way Servicemen Information centre

pick-up point

3
FASE
55km/h PHASE

Co-ordinated robots Multi-phase Park and ride

traffic lights

Modal transfer

Highway Code 65
 ROAD
EXPERIMENT
1 km
Bus stop ahead Road experiment

SUPPLEMENTARY PLATE SIGNS

80km/h 300 m For 8km
Recommended Distance to Distance for
speed

CUSTOMS
DOUANE
Police Customs Tow-away zone

ROAD SURFACE MARKINGS

REGULATORY

STOP
Stop line Yield line Pedestrian crossing

No overtaking No crossing Channelising Left edge line

No overtaking line

No
Right edge line crossing Painted islands

66 Highway Code
 A B L T P
B
A
D
C M D
R D B
D
C

Parking bay Exclusive parking bay

and symbols

No stopping line No stopping line No parking line

(certain times)

BUS
Bicycle lane Bus lane Zig-zag zone

Box junction Roundabout Mandatory direction

arrows

WARNING

Mandatory direction Railway crossing Yield sign

arrows ahead ahead ahead

Highway Code 67
 Dividing lines Continuity lines Reversible
lines

Lane reduction arrows No overtaking or no

crossing line ahead

Arrestor bed Speed hump Following Speed

ahead distance reduction
markings markings

Lane line marking Furcation arrows

Movement direction/reversible Bicycle Airport Disabled

lane information arrows persons

68 Highway Code
 Bicycle crossing guidelines

Guidelines

FLAG SIGNALS

Stop Warning Proceed

Camera used to check speed

Highway Code 69
Printed by Likuni Press