Updated: Russian woman critically injured in crash

K.Falzon

Oct 3rd 2008, 19:00

Stefan,

It is already illegal to drive whilst using a mobile phone.

Paul Barret,

You are perfectly right. Road lighting is not the solution. Cat's eyes and clear road markings are required.

Charles Micallef

Oct 3rd 2008, 18:04

We do not respect speed limits,

We do not respect other drivers,

We drive as if we are the only ones on the road that matters,

We drive with one hand on the wheel and one holding a mobile phone glued to our ears.

Lorry,& Bus Drivers think they have more rights on our roads, simply because their vechiles are bigger and more intimidating!

And we do all this simply because we are lawless and you never see a traffic Policeman enforcing the law.

This afternoon I was driving behind a Police Car around 4pm (one of the new Ford Focus) a bit further up from Casa Arcati, and a tradesman was unloading his wares with his van parked across and totally blocking A ZEBRA CROSSING,

I was sure that they where going to book him, but I was wrong they just ignored him and kept on going, and what really concerns me is that I bet anyone that they did not know that he was breaking the law, big big time!

Do we need any more reasons (Not Excuses), why we have so many accidents..........................

stephan camilleri

Oct 3rd 2008, 00:01

A law âgainst the use of mobil phone must be introduced while driving. Every where here in Malta one sees this mal practice time and again.
For the persons involed in this incident, I wish them a fast recoverary.

Mario Mifsud

Oct 2nd 2008, 20:43

Speed cameras are not the solution. my opinion is that they are causing more accidents. We have become a Le Mans track. It is happenin all the time. One speed, brakes when nearing a speed camera. Once passed. vmmmmmmmmmmmmm... off we go again.

Paul Barrett

Oct 2nd 2008, 17:40

Lights along the Coast Road are a comparatively recent addition and are useful if you are walking along the footpath - they are however not a great deal of help when driving as they cast shadows.
What this road needs is cat eyes on the centre line and the footpath kerb could also do with something to make it stand out from the road surface.
If all drivers could concentrate on actually driving, changing gear for the bends and using their mirrors properly (instead of using mobile phones, sight seeing and carrying out conversations with their hands when driving) this road is one of the best in Malta from the point of car control within but at the speed limit when and where conditions are suitable.
Unfortunately we have some rouge drivers who can't judge the conditions, can't keep to their side of the road, fail to check that their lights are working or correctly adjusted, take bends in the wrong gear, drive when they are too tired to drive or when they have been drinking. Any one or a combination of any of the above and you have a potential "accident".
Hopefully all get well soon.

J Micallef

Oct 2nd 2008, 17:21

Dear all...

I wish all those involved a speedy recovery.

But we have to calm down a bit in our reactions to such news:

It's true we have:
1. Terrible road surfaces (Slippery, uneven, etc)
2. Poor lighting
3. Bad driving habits

But please think before precipitating into conclusions like speed cameras (we already have too many), central strips, sleeping policemen and other so-called speed containing tricks.

One of the cars involved was driven by foreigners - I've heard a similar story before....

Cars were made to take you from a to b and the roads a means to do so comfortably and effectively. Neither was made to replace human judgement or correct human error. We may have better road surfaces, and cars equipped with ABS, ESP (not extra sensory perception!) - active safety and airbags (passive safetly), but in the end, it's the human aspect that makes or breaks!

And there is little more you can do to control this without making driving even more rediculous than it presently is. We can't have speed cameras at every stretch of road over 100meters. We'll end up fined if we overtake a heavy-vehicle travelling at 40kph.

We need:

Education
Discipline
Example

I. M. Dingli

Oct 2nd 2008, 16:12

Last week I was passing from the coast road with my motorbike. Illumination was off for the first part starting from the Coastline Hotel till the junction leading to Maghtab. I could hardly see the road especially with oncoming traffic. It is not always a matter of speed but rather basic things such as illumination.

M Cassar

Oct 2nd 2008, 14:32

Can anyone recount the number of fatalities and critical injuries on the coast road over the years?

Shouldn't the ADT or the government feel obliged to do something about the coast road? Is it not negligence from their part that we still have several accident black spots and nothing is ever done about them?

As a start we could install speed cameras where they are most effective not where they rake in the most money.