Driver injured in Burmarrad crash

JOHN SCERRI

Apr 15th 2008, 22:15

This is an old one lane road . It cannot be rebuilt otherwise, fields on both sides + grave yard.
I have been driving through here every day for the past 30years.
I would not dare overtake in this stretch of road.
Yet I see some macho heads who slam on the gas pedal, cross the white line - just to be one car ahead - These road hogs are the trouble.
There is also the other extreme..... those people who behave as if they inherited the road and drive below 25km/hr frustrating the drivers behind them. These are also the source of these accidents.
This behavior must stop.
Traffic police should fine also those who, for no particular reason, drive very slowly in non overtaking roads.
Let's all wish the victim of this accident a speedy recovery.

Ramon Casha

Apr 15th 2008, 15:19

The quality of roads is indeed a major cause of accidents. Factors include the quality of the surface (slippery even when dry), quality of maintenance (pothole size and frequency), the availability of places to stop in an emergency, sufficiently wide roads for clean overtaking, road markings which are actually visible to the naked eye, and many other things. Forget about speed limits - road planning is inexistent in most places. Try driving around the Naxxar parish church at the legal limit one day and see whether you manage it - it's supposed to be 5 km/h (that's not a misprint). Most car speedometers aren't even able to measure that velocity.

Kate Hudson

Apr 15th 2008, 14:01

You cannot blame 'one lane roads' or any other roads for all the accidents that happen. What causes accidents is driver error, or more rarely vehicle failure. Any safe driver knows that speed should be based on the particular set of circumstances at that time. For example near a school or in a built up area one should proceed more slowly. On a two lane road where overtaking is easy it is safer to go faster ( but never above the limit) One lane roads are safe but not when people drive with no regard for other road users, the current weather conditions, the amount of traffic and so on. So many Maltese drivers seem unable to look further ahead than their own bonnet. They do not anticipate potential problems and often seem to react at the very last second to dangers and obstacles. All of this makes for a more dangerous road environment and accounts in part for the relatively high number of collisions (thankfully mostly involving no injury) which occur every day on our roads. Let's all 'think ahead' a little more often!

avril buhagiar

Apr 14th 2008, 22:03

when will people obey the rules of the road and stop overtaking across solid white lines and thereby putting other drivers at risk

André Xuereb

Apr 14th 2008, 18:43

When are the authorities going to realise that one-lane roads, coupled with the slow speed and reckless manner with which "some" Maltese people drive, lead to more, and more serious, accidents..? In every long stretch of road, one needs space to overtake!

hadrian agius

Apr 14th 2008, 18:03

one of the famous 'One Lane Roads' this country is so proud to have!!!