Do the poor street signs make it hard to navigate around Malta

No its never bothered me - but then I have a very good directional sense and have never used a satnav either, sadly the missus doesnt. Just a map and an acute sense of shapes and road directions. Thats not to say it cant be puzzling but you can generally recognise something, In the early days I always asked for recognizable objects/buildings etc.



but you soon learn the way round.

I'm using a GPS navigation system and therefore have no problems with locations and street names - and never got lost

When I was first on Malta in 1978, I was told that many people did not go out of their respective Parishes and I could believe that!
Also I have never remembered the street names of where I lived for nearly 25 years in the UK, so it's no surprise to me that people do not remember street names. They know where they are and how to get somewhere without needing to know. Also, let's face it, men just don't/can't or want to ask for directions at the best of times!!

I use a combination of sense of direction, maps, sat nav and unlike many men, I ask. Direction of satellite dishes also gives a general sense of what direction south is.

the street signs dont make it hard to navigate around Malta, The Drivers and Roads do

Just Kidding, the street signs are ok, and as said above a good map will help, there is an A - Z Map book you can get that is brilliant.

Julian

I drive by the sun in the daytime - at night I rely on the father and holy ghost, plus the spirits.

georgeingozo wrote:

I drive by the sun in the daytime - at night I rely on the father and holy ghost, plus the spirits.

Actually I think it is a bit confusing somtimes when you look up a street and on google it shows the maltese name and then in the street there is only a sign with an english name. Especially my wife has difficulties with that.

Other than that in our new car we got a GPS and there is the same problem and moreover the GPS obviously has such an old Software (wonderous when you buy a new car) that i have already driven into one-way street 3 times!! and sometimes it takes you to places where there is no street to go through (near Pavi i had this problem when it took me through the horse stables and there is no exit)

Better use a map in the beginning, after some time you know the places anyways.

GPS+Commonsense

I have a little Satnav
It sits there in my car
A Satnav is a driver's friend
It tells you where you are
I have a little Satnav
I've had it all my life
It's better than the normal ones
My Satnav is my wife

It gives me full instructions
Especially how to drive
"It's thirty miles an hour", it says
"You're doing thirty five"
It tells me when to stop and start 
And when to use the brake
And tells me that it's never ever
Safe to overtake
It tells me when a light is red
And when it goes to green
It seems to know instinctively 
Just when to intervene 
It lists the vehicles just in front
And all those to the rear 
And taking this into account 
It specifies my gear. 

I'm sure no other driver
Has so helpful a device 
For when we leave and lock the car
It still gives its advice 
It fills me up with counselling 
Each journey's pretty fraught
So why don't I exchange it 
And get a quieter sort? 
Ah well, you see, it cleans the house, 
Makes sure I'm properly fed,
It washes all my shirts and things 
And - keeps me warm in bed!
Despite all these advantages
And my tendency to scoff,
I do wish that once in a while 
I could turn the bugger off.

                                                Anon

I must be the only one that uses a bus and walks to where I want to be, if all else fails, find the nearest bus stop and head back to Valetta ....

Chardor wrote:

I must be the only one that uses a bus and walks to where I want to be, if all else fails, find the nearest bus stop and head back to Valetta ....

No, you're not.

I recently found out that the name of those street signs are called odonym. It seems that a navigation device  might be helpful and I might consider getting one. I agree that once you know a place well, you don’t need a odonym. If the odonyms were taken  down where I live,  I would still be able to get  to my home and my work since I’ve lived there all my life. However, odonyms are not made for the people that know the area. They’re made for the people that are new to the area and want to use them as reference for a map.  I understand why the natives in Malta would not have any problem with the odonyms since they’ve lived in Malta all of their lives and would know the area well. I just find it strange that the people who moved to Malta don’t have a problem with them especially the ones that don’t use a navigation device.  For example, recently a man asked me how to get to a hospital and I told him to go straight, turn right on Lakeville Road, and keep walking until you see the hospital. If I didn’t know the name of Lakeville Road then I don’t know how I would have given him directions.
I suppose that we have a different way of looking at directions. While I and many people in New York try to pay attention to street names and give directions that uses them as reference, the people in Malta pay more attention to buildings and landmarks but there are two problems with using that method. First of all, when you use a software to get directions like Google or Mapquest, they give you directions using street names, not landmarks so if you can’t find the odonyms then you won’t be able to follow their directions. The second problem with using landmarks to guide you is that there isn’t always a landmark near your destination. For example, what if you were giving directions and you wanted somebody to turn left on a road. If there happened to be a McDonalds before the road then you could tell the person to turn left after they see the McDonalds.  However, what if there was nothing before the road but houses or fields? I am not trying to say that it is impossible to learn how to navigate around Malta. I’m sure we could all learn if we lived there long enough. I’m just saying that it might be slightly easier if they put up more odonyms. Would anybody agree with that statement?

in answer - i recognise road layout on maps - and i do so very well at it.

A lot of this depends upon an individual's preferred learning style, be they visual, audio or kinaesthetic learners (to put in to basic terms/groups).

No 'one size' will ever fit all.

Me? I'm brilliant at reading maps, have a very keen sense of direction and only have to go a place once, to be able to remember the location and route. (I have driven Lynn mad over the years, being able to do this.)

Find your way around on a bike (motor or pedalled).

http://www.visordown.com/product-news/h … 22900.html

My husband has learned to navigate around Malta, without a map, as there are few major roads that go from north to south and east to west. It's when we get into a village that the SATNAV, me, using the A-Z is needed. Signs at cross roads are invaluable in finding one's way and of course church domes, towers and roundabouts, which we use to find direction signs. And of course driving very slowly.