Another accident on the coast road

p.grima

Dec 10th 2008, 23:51

Many car drivers I see on my daily trips to and from work are engaged in phone calls, (without a hands-free device) or clicking away on their phones composing an sms.

Most near-accidents I experienced on my motorbike happened when some neanderthal crossed my path without previously showing his/her intention by using the dedicated indicators.

Many cars, I observe, are driven with their side-mirrors folded closed, damaged, dirty, or missing. Others evidently do not use any of their rear-view mirrors.

This is what I believe causes most accidents, and "loss of control": distraction, imprudence, and lack of respect to other road users.

Frequently I see infants sitting on an adult's lap on the front seats of cars, (both sides) and children standing between the front seats as their loving (?) parents drive along.

Do the wardens not see these things too?

I suggest that the media should say that the person/s involved in an accident did not get hurt because they were wearing the seat belt properly, if/when it is the case, or otherwise, when a traffic accident is reported. (traffic experts will know). This should influence the careless for their own good.

Paul Smith

Dec 10th 2008, 19:24

f we had as many road accidents per population density in the UK as you have in Malta, there would be a national road safety campaign, cops everywhere stopping and fining motorists, drug and alcohol road side tests and a massive crack down on cars unfit for the road. It has truly become perilous to drive or even cross the road in Malta, those whom have just passed there tests should have to have someone during evening hours over the age of 30 years supervising them for a few years. Maltese parents must live in fear everytime there children go out in a car.

Mr.Benson

Dec 10th 2008, 18:53

i don't want to appear to be bais or anything, but most of the time i read about these accidents happening in malta and Gozo are caused by women of all ages. Very often i see them holding the steering wheel with one hand whilst holding the mobile with the other and ofcourse not forgetting the Rosery Beeds dangling down from the rear view mirror think thats going to save their live by driving with one hand maneuvering the car with the other especially round the coast road.,That my friends in Britian is a criminal offence and could lend a person in the clink(locked up)if death arises from such irresponsible driving,speed camers should be installed,so how many More!perople need to die before the local authorities decide to install cameras and warning signs.Lets hope 2009 is a safer year for most.

John Azzopardi

Dec 10th 2008, 18:10

Ideally opposing lanes on motorways (such at the Coast Road) should not be on the same carriageway but separated (e.g. B'Kara Bypass). That is the only way to avoid head-collisions. However, even on motorways such as B'Kara Bypass the presence and intervention of traffic police and traffic wardens should increase. It is very common to get a driver on both the inside and outside lane travelling at the same slow speed so that other drivers cannot safely overtake. Driver education and respect for others in grossly lacking.

Joseph Calleja

Dec 10th 2008, 17:28

As I mentioned many times before country 2 lane roads are an invitation for accidents as you see in this picture and others. Please make sure your lights are on when driving especially on these beautiful scenic roads, and NO it's not because you cannot see, but to maybe alert an oncoming driver and avoid an accident or maybe even save a life. The traffic on Maltese roads has multiplied big time in the last ten years but the roads stayed the same. Again you cannot fit five gallons of water in a one gallon can. Roads need to be restructured to accomodate this kind of traffic with 4 lane roads where possible. If you look around you see a lot of drivers are still using their mobiles while driving? Where is the law? Maybe a heftier fine would slow down the using of mobiles when driving and that includes texting.

andrew caruana

Dec 10th 2008, 14:55

" lost control of the car" there are 2 conditions that can cause this, the first one is driving too fast for conditions, the second is a maintenance issue, poor/worn , tires worn suspension and steering parts.

Peter Todd

Dec 10th 2008, 14:54

I would agree with André Xuereb, slow drivers can be just as dangerous as speeding drivers. You know who you are, don't be arrogant and pull over to the shoulder and let people pass.

And yes there also needs to be passing lanes on certain sections, also put up signs telling motorists that a passing lane is coming up in x 100 meters, this will make the inpatient wait to pass.

Carl Engerer

Dec 10th 2008, 13:52

Maybe if we had more stringent roadworthy tests and roadworthy checks on vehicles (please take a look at the amount of vehicles pictured in onlyinmalta.com) we could lower the amount of accidents where drivers lose control of their vehicle.

André Xuereb

Dec 10th 2008, 13:32

K Camilleri:
I can't say anything specific about this accident, of course, but the main problem with the Coast Road is _not_ people overtaking dangerously, but the cause of those overtakes: people driving slowly in our "lovely" one-lane system of roads.

Sean Sant Fournier

Dec 10th 2008, 13:23

I think the problem is that it is a main road and one lane for each direction is not enough. Some drivers drive very slow, too slow for that kind of road, and it is very dangerous to overtake because there are alot of curves and you cannot see who is coming in the opposite direction. The road needs to be widened to accomodate 2 lanes, a slow and a fast lane, for each direction.

K Camilleri

Dec 10th 2008, 12:18

Sometimes one can lose control when driving a car, I lost control when doing 30kmph in wetr conditions. The first thing I did was have my tyres checked, and eventualy replaced. However the main problem in the coast road is simple - people overtake dangerously. Every time I am driving along that road I always have someone overtaking me - driving on the other side of the road. If you are not carefull, don't cry if you get an accident.

m lavelle

Dec 10th 2008, 10:15

It amazes me that so many drivers 'lose control' of their vehicles. Why is this???
Does the car come alive and seize control. As for the trees I've said this before they do seem to keep popping up all over where you least expect them to!

On a more serious note do any of these drivers get charged for dangerous driving?