Discipline on the roads
Unfortunately, we Maltese seem to have a bad reputation as drivers, being regarded by many as cowboys of the streets and roads. Which is why I am sometimes surprised how such initiatives as speed cameras find so much opposition when these can contribute so much to more discipline on the roads and, therefore, more safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
I am all in favour of the installation of speed cameras because one has to admit that, yes, they do make drivers careful to avoid speeding and, let's face it, we Maltese only seem to learn through sanctions. Education is important but we have to be realistic and admit that, by itself, it will not lead to more disciplined drivers.
I am also worried by the alarming increase in the number of people who drive while speaking on their mobile phone. I was recently driving when I noticed that the car in front of me was swerving erratically from one lane to the other because the driver was speaking on his mobile phone and seemed oblivious to the fact that he was driving in a highly dangerous manner. It is high time that a campaign clamping down on such abuses is initiated.
Another problem that I see is the fact that the local warden system is operated rather haphazardly. Some people have learned to beat the system because they break the law on days and at times when local wardens do not operate in a particular area.
In the area where I live, I have never seen a warden on Sunday evenings. I am reliably informed that wardens do not operate there on Sundays. So what happens? Some people from outside the locality who visit the area on Sunday evenings have noticed this fact and thus park their cars on yellow lines, sometimes even hemming-in legally-parked cars in such a manner that, should the latters' owners need to use their cars in an emergency, they would have great difficulty in moving their cars without hitting the illegally-parked cars on the yellow lines. This abuse has been going on not only for weeks and months but for several years!
To add insult to injury, some time ago I saw a warden in the same area booking a pensioner on a weekday because his car had a very small part of it which protruded over the white lines. The pensioner protested but the warden was inflexible and booked him for the infringement. Yet, in the same area, the same people who have been abusing the system for such a long time still get away with it even as I write.
I am all for the local warden system and I feel that wardens are carrying out a good job but the system has to be operated more efficiently and effectively and not have local wardens always present at such places as roundabouts at peak times on weekdays and always conspicuously absent from other areas at other times and days.
I think it is also time that the traffic police deal with drivers who block traffic by driving at a snail's pace on the outer lane of a road, sometimes even chatting to a passenger to their heart's content while other drivers are held up on a lane whose main purpose is that of being used for overtaking. Such irresponsible drivers have caused many accidents, sometimes even fatal ones. Finding his/her way blocked by somebody who even ignores the hooting of the horn to make way, a person in a hurry, due to an emergency or some other reason, may try to overtake in a very risky and dangerous manner and finish up colliding with another car, with disastrous consequences.
I have hardly ever seen a driver who blocks the outer lane being spoken to by a member of the traffic police. If such a person were to be stopped and admonished on the potential danger of his/her actions, this would go a long way towards curbing such abuses.
Road rage is another worrying phenomenon these days. Today, even if you are involved in an ordinary bumper-to-bumper collision, you fear that the other driver might come at you, foaming at the mouth, and perhaps even assault you. How many such cases have we heard of recently? I know several people who carry a piece of wood or iron in their cars to be armed in case of such an eventuality. This is a very negative development and I am all for draconian sentences when somebody is found guilty of assaulting another person after a collision.
Discipline on Malta's streets and roads is in everybody's best interests. Let's all contribute towards such a desirable state of affairs.
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p.grima
Apr 4th 2009, 00:17
@-Salvatore Morgan-
We have the technology, you see!
There are videocameras even incorporated on many mobile phones nowadays. So one can capture irrefutable proof of offences easily, (not when one is driving, of course) like they do on some foreign programmes and on Only In Malta.
Salvatore Morgan
Apr 3rd 2009, 07:31
What about those drivers who think they can text and drive at the same time? There should be a system to send an sms for this kind of dangerous practice whilst driving and also an sms system to report drivers that drive in a reckless way...but will it work and for how long?
p.grima
Apr 3rd 2009, 01:07
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 direction indicators.
Many cars, I observe, are driven with their side-mirrors folded closed, damaged, dirty, or altogether missing. Others evidently do not make use of any of their rear-view mirrors.
This is what I believe causes most accidents, and "loss of control": being over-confident, 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.
p.grima
Apr 3rd 2009, 01:01
@-DZM-
What you failed to mention in your article is the texting of sms messages by drivers on the go.
I ride my motorcycle to and from work daily. From my higher viewpoint and all round unobstructed vision I see this happen all too often.
Richard curmi
Apr 2nd 2009, 14:24
An hour ago I passed the St.Venera tunnels twice this morning. I`m not going to say that speed cameras are wrong or right, however the speed limit which have been imposed has created a bumper to bumper situation which I had never experienced passing through the tunnels. Believe me it is not a safe situation especially driving a motorbike, I had cars up my end to close for comfort and I had nowhere to go, twice all the traffic passed at barely 40kph with almost everyone`s brake light lit up(not the lights) with no space for any maneuverability at all. If I ever have an accident here I will call upon the ADT experts to explain why they have created this dangerous situation. If they did it for our safety, then I am living in outer space. Can someone in authority see some sense for once please.
john fenech
Apr 2nd 2009, 11:49
Dear Sir I agree we have drivers who should not be permitted to pedal a scooter let alone drive a car!
Having said that I disagree that speed cameras impose disciple on the road, they enforce speed reduction at a particular spot only; after that it is back to usual if not worst. There are traffic cameras which do control over speeding and these operate in pairs and obviously are more expensive. Therefore do not fit into the realm of our authorities since every thing about our road network have to be as cheap as possible otherwise there will not be enough lolly for propaganda!
As you have correctly pointed out several other factors leading to potential accidents are on the increase. As regard traffic wardens at the beginning they did make a difference now either their brief will be revised or else their existence should be shelved.
For instance it is an open secret that wardens avoid certain areas like the plague. These areas are the hub of all traffic irregularities but not important to the TWs. On the other hand how many commercial vehicles irregularities or red light jumping are brought to book?
Rene Rossignaud
Apr 2nd 2009, 11:28
Come on.... lets stop all this crap that speed cameras increase safety on the road!!, has any one on the streets noticed that these cameras have reduced our main roads to 40km!!, as no one is going to dare and drive at 59km right?, this is shamful and just an other good excuse why people will not go to vote again...
I see it in this way, due to my work, I live on the road day by day, so if I am late...which thanks to our great roads, I always am, I have to drive fast, or faster than others, so every time I slow down to 50km, then I have to gain the time I lost.. basically these camera have created a slow down zone, but then most of us end up in road rage trying to gain lost time, and trying to understand why no one know's what a fast lane is in Malta.
I am happy with 80km, but 60km on a main road is a joke, and just an other tax, well done to all at adt..or who ever approves such crap..
Graham Holme
Apr 2nd 2009, 11:19
Personaly,I dont find its the speeding drivers that cause the biggest problem in Malta,but the manner in which vehicles are driven,ie,driving too close to the vehicle in front overtaking on blind bends etc.
Plus I find it hard to concentrate on traffic conditions,as im sure every other driver in Malta does,when most of your concentration is centred on the road in front of your vehicle,checking for the thousands of pot holes that litter the roads of Malta.
The roads of Malta are not only a disgrace,but also a very severe safety hazard
LGalea
Apr 2nd 2009, 10:54
Are you trying your luch at becoming a local counselor Mr Zammit Marmara'?
Speed cameras do not save life.
They only save the money for the local councils, wardens companies and the government.
How do you expect drivers not to be frustrated when our roads have been reduced to a single land with a runway in the middle?
How could it be otherwise when you have to drive behind some big truck or bus belching out all shades of smoke driving at a snails pace in the summer heat without being able to overtake it?
How about the ridiculous speed limits that are being imposed to line the pockets of those already mentioned?
Wardens? They are the most hated people in Malta and Gozo for their arrogance, inflexibility and sheer stupidity of some of them.
Ramon Casha
Apr 2nd 2009, 10:38
One problem - speed cameras do not increase safety. We've already witnessed two major accidents - both within a short distance of newly installed cameras. People who approach a speed camera first slow down suddenly (dangerous) then pay more attention to the speedometer than the road (dangerous) and finally, once they pass the camera's range, speed off again at an even higher speed to make up for lost time (dangerous), not to mention venting their frustration by driving even faster (dangerous).
Speed cameras have contributed to a sharp increase in accidents and fatalities in a number of countries, and it seems Malta is no exception.
Apparently, the authorities consider a few additional road deaths to be a small price to pay as long as the cash keeps flowing in.
Please choose the reason of your report below: