Sunday, 7th September 2008
One dead, two critical after St Julian's traffic accident
The wreckage of the accident in St Julians early yesterday morning. Photo: Jurgen Scicluna
A man died and three others are in hospital, two of them critical, after a head-on collision involving two vehicles in St Julian's early yesterday morning.
Police said the accident took place in St Andrew's Road at 12.15 a.m. when a 33-year-old man from Qormi lost control of his car. His Mazda veered to the other side of the road and collided with a Mercedes Benz, driven by a 44-year-old from Marsascala on the opposite carriageway.
The Mazda driver was certified dead before rescuers from the Civil Protection Department and an ambulance arrived on the spot. The Mercedes driver and a passenger in the Mazda were seriously injured, while another passenger was also injured.
Duty magistrate Jacqueline Padovani ordered an inquiry and police are investigating.
In another accident late on Friday night, a man riding a stolen motorcycle collided with a Mercedes Benz in Qawra Street, St Paul's Bay, driven by a 57-year-old. The rider's condition was described as serious but stable.
RSS
Comments
Sorry to disappoint you Michael but the only way things change in Malta apparently are for the worst. We have been promised a better quality of life and more rights and protection once we joined the EU but we are now realising that we have been taken for a ride once again as you’ll soon find out.
You are going to have to put up with reckless driving, noisy silencers on a good number of vehicles, loud music in inhabited areas from non caring youths, smoke belching diesel powered vehicles, total disregard to traffic regulations and much more. You name it we’ve got it!
By the way, all the above are traffic contraventions, please try and jot down how many you see being booked by our “ Police “ during your “ pleasant “ stay.
Did I mention that nobody is doing anything about the ever-increasing number of new vehicles on our road? In a few years time we won’t be able to arrive to any destination, as the roads would be jammed solid. Yet we still see junks pottering along in this day and age. You are in for some very exciting times my friend.
Secondly when there is an accident it is in the papers. Why do they not write about how the police do nothing when people go obout skidding their car's tires and speeding down the main road at night (Hamrun). The police station is on the main road however they must be too busy conversing among themselves to come out and stop these people or more likely scared of them.
When there is an accident write how good the police are then and forget what they did not do before. The authorities are there only to go on the media and do their PR Speel however for us Maltese they do nothing. It is true however that many Maltese break the Law so I suppose the police are being indiscriminate to law abiding and non. On the other hand the police have more contact with those who break the law and as such must be more friendly with them; those who have had no trouble with the police are just empty faces.
It could be an EU directive which I am not informed of as yet.
People are wrong to suppose or assume. I know the victim . John Agius was a member of the AFM, a good lad. He was devoted to fitness . Even at work all he consumed was water and fruit and fibre bars. John, may your GOD be with you.
My condolences to the deceased family.
What is the date of manufacture of the cars involved in this accident? Was any one of them – if not both – equipped with airbags? Do all brand new cars imported in Malta have airbags? If not, may I suggest to the authorities that airbags should be standard equipment on all new cars imported in Malta.
May I also suggest that all media channels of communications, including TV and radio, promote road safety and include road safety programmes on a regular basis. Several years ago I used to present such programmes on TVM and RTK radio. As several young drivers obtain their driving licences every year, such programmes could be repeated after a few months.
The education authorities may also consider introducing theoretical driver education lessons or courses for school leavers, particularly in the secondary schools. My students showed a lot of interest when I introduced such lessons at the Naxxar Secondary Technical School several years ago with the approval of the headmaster.
"More than 25% of all car drivers were involved in car accidents in a five year period.
In more than half of all car accident fatalities, the deceased were found not to be wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. Even with seat belts being mandatory, a vast majority of people choose to disregard this safety precaution and end up losing their lives because of it.
Many car accidents are caused by people talking to other passengers while driving, and others due to drivers playing with the radio while driving. A large percentage is because of eating or drinking while driving, and 25% of car accidents are caused due to talking on the mobile phone while at the wheel of the car.
These car accident statistics are sad enough on their own, the saddest part being that they could have easily been avoided had drivers been paying more attention to driving and less to other activities".
So chatting on the phone causes 25% of accidents in the USA (and Malta probably)!