Evarist Saliba, Ta' l-Ibraġ
Confusing traffic signs
For several months I have been bewildered by traffic signs on the coast road near the junction leading up to ex-Madliena fort, on the opposite side of the former White Rocks complex.
As one approaches this point from High Ridge, the driver is informed that the maximum speed limit is 70 kph. Then he is warned that s/he is approaching a speed camera, and as soon as he reaches this camera the speed limit drops to 60kph.
This I know from experience because the sign is actually facing drivers approaching it from the opposite direction. However, drivers approaching this point from Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq are faced with two speed limit signs. The one on the right is the just mentioned 60kmp one, while the one on the left shows 70kph.
Who is responsible for all this confusion? Why has no action been taken to rectify matters? If the authorities show such disregard for doing things properly, how do they expect road users to behave any better?
Another confusing, and dangerous set of traffic signs have been introduced around the playground as one enters Victoria Gardens in Ta' l-Ibraġ. This playground has always served as a traffic island, and traffic signs have clearly indicated this. However, recently a dead-end offshoot from this point has been surfaced and confusion has reigned ever since. A new sign now permits drivers who want to enter this dead-end offshoot, and the trucks which collect the bring-in recycling containers at this point, to drive straight ahead, in direct confrontation to all the other traffic exiting Victoria Gardens, which has to go around the playground as directed by a "no entry" sign.
For some odd reason, the helpful directional traffic signs on three humped traffic islands have been removed, while the fourth has been turned around, thus creating all this confusion.
For whose benefit has all this been done? Is the perceived convenience of trucks and the users of a very short dead-end offshoot, more important than safety on the road? The retention of the playground as a traffic island will inconvenience no one, while its reintroduction makes sensible traffic management.
Who is responsible for all this? Are the persons entrusted with installing, removing and turning around these signs competent to assume such responsibility? Will they answer this letter and justify their action, or inaction?
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Ramon Casha
Aug 11th 2008, 13:57
How about the place names and direction arrows which are often placed several tens of meters PAST the last point at which a driver can choose the correct lane... not to mention being in small letters printed in black on a background of dark diesel?
R.Sciberras
Aug 11th 2008, 12:12
Just goes to show the state our roads are in. We cant even get signage right. I often wonder if those responsible ever had any course or if they ever went abroad. I am sure that watching a cycling tour like tour De France would be very benificial to get some ideas on how things should be done.
Karen M. Zammit Manduca
Aug 11th 2008, 10:28
Very often, I think that traffic signs facing the wrong way may have been turned around on their poles by pranksters because nobody in his right mind would fix them that way. In view of this it is necessary for the Local Councils or ADT to be on the lookout, or appoint people to report on these signs and take action immediately. At the same time, if any member of the public reports something to this effect, they should be checked out immediately.
A couple of years ago, I reported to ADT what I thought was a sign erroneously placed on the Regional Road, near the Poor Clares Monastery in St Julain's. It took several months before the sign was replaced correctly.