Updated: Four arrested after crash

mark tanti

Apr 21st 2009, 21:58

To all those answering my comment I would like to bring to their attention that if they are speed lovers I do not mind if they drive at much speed as much as they like as long as they are on the roads by themselves. Knowing that this is not possible I repeat that you either respect speed limits or pay heavy fines until you learn that on the roads you are not by yourselves and that by over speeding you are putting other people's life in danger.
Mr Micallef 1) Speed cameras are an important tool to control irresponsible drivers so I was not out of track in my comment 2) If you do not want to be a victim of these cash cows all you have to do is to drive according to the speed limits defined by the authorities. and 3) you ended your comment saying that you respect the laws but not speed limits. Your statement shows how irresponsible you are towards other drivers on the road.

R.Gatt

Apr 21st 2009, 12:14

I'll bet you they will get a suspended sentence and get out of it scot free Mr. Charles Micallef.

@ R. Vella Bamber - I totally agree re: slow drivers on the overtaking lane, but let's not blame the speed cameras as it's been going on long before the cameras were introduced. What's needed is more surveillance on our roads by wardens who know driving rules well. These would stop over or under speeding motorists and initially educate verbally. If same driver is caught again, then he gets a ticket and harsher penalties for repeats.

I agree that most reckless drivers are younsters who think they're all Hamiltons and Buttons now that they've got a driving licence (you see and hear them whizzing past the police station and other streets in Mellieha especially as soon as a GP has just finished), but I have seen also 30 to 50 year olds who don't have a clue. In a small island like ours it should not be too hard to control these reckless drivers. What's needed is a little bit of want and drive from our police and wardens.

R. Gatt

Apr 21st 2009, 12:06

I'll bet you they will get a suspended sentence and get out of it scot free Mr. Charles Micallef.

@ R. Vella Bamber - I totally agree re: slow drivers on the overtaking lane, but let's not blame the speed cameras as it's been going on long before the cameras were introduced. What's needed is more surveillance on our roads by wardens who know driving rules well. These would stop over or under speeding motorists and initially educate verbally. If same driver is caught again, then he gets a ticket and harsher penalties for repeats.

I agree that most reckless drivers are younsters who think they're all Hamiltons and Buttons now that they've got a driving licence (you see and hear them whizzing past the police station in Mellieha especially as soon as a GP has just finished), but I have seen also 30 to 50 year olds who don't have a clue and overspeed. In a small island like ours it should not be too hard to control these reckless drivers. What's needed is a little bit of want and drive from our police and wardens.

Kenneth Cassar

Apr 21st 2009, 10:54

@ mark tanti:

Nearly no one opposes speed cameras. Nearly everyone opposes ridiculous speed-limits. Get it?

A. Tabone

Apr 21st 2009, 10:44

I am a 24 year old driver with a full non claim bonus and been driving decently since 18yrs. I have never scratched my car and due to my utmost attention and quick reflex I frequently manage to avoid reckless drivers colliding into me.

Up till this very day I pay a very dear price for insurance. For example w/o non-claim bonus, on a common car like a 1991 Charade I have to pay Lm140, whilst if I was over 25 I have to pay Lm58... third party only cover.

Now does anyone reading this article think that this is fair on me? Living in a mixed market economy, would I be expecting much if I expect that government authorities control such an unfair situation ?

Gaby Mamo

Apr 21st 2009, 10:20

Mark Tanti, sorry to disappoint you but speed cameras do not solve the 'wreckless driving' problem but only the 'speeding more than the speed marked on the sign post' problem! Wreckless driving is not only that. If someone is driving completely wrong way its not caught on camera. If someone is drunk and swaying from one side to the other of the street its not caught on camera. If someone decides to do a hazardous U-turn its not caught on camera. If someone drives off on a Red-Light its not caught on camera.... and the list goes on!

joe pace

Apr 21st 2009, 01:48

Driving in Malta is a big joke, about 80% of the Maltese drivers are reckless and they do not give a toss to any other road users, few weeks ago just after 8.30 on my way to work I was travelling on the bypass going to Marsa when this lorry (a peasant )was travelling on the outer lane and not going more than 35 kilo meters an hour, he created a traffic tailback(please for anyone out there can somebody explain to me which lane is for what purpose because am a bit confused and I wonder how many drivers that they really know. ) Maltese need to be discipline heavily with higher fines. and I will guarantee you it will educate the 80% of the drivers for safety and respect others users. (And the last thing who is this JOKER THAT IS IN CHARGE OF THE ROAD MARKING , GISSA A JOB MATE AND I WILL DO A BETTER ONE (OR NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, IS WHO YOU KNOW MATE).

Max Farrugia

Apr 21st 2009, 01:10

M. Farrugia
I fully agree with the speed cameras especially in certain built up zones. But to avoid being fine traps I recommend that the speed sign will be shown on the road tarmac from a certain distance to attract the attention of the driver. This is a common scene in most of the European countries. The speed limit is shown in a circle or an oval shape marked on the tarmac.

J Micallef

Apr 21st 2009, 00:55

To Mark Tanti:

You're completely out of track. This incident goes to prove that speed cameras are just cash cows and they are not preventing any type of criminality on the roads. This is not a question of speed limit. It's a question of conformity with the law.

Laws are to be respected, speed cameras with stupid speed limits are not.

Adrian Cardona

Apr 21st 2009, 00:28

@mark tanti
First of all please use understandable english. it's 'reckless', not 'wreckless'. Secondly, what have speed cameras got to do with this criminal act? If you are seriously trying to equate these idiots indulging in car chases with someone driving at 61km/hr, you are being narrow-minded in the extreme

Samuel Debono

Apr 20th 2009, 22:02

As far as I know none of these 'youths' had a driving licence - and this does not make them drivers M. Mercieca. And I do take more risks than others when driving, but at least I always use an indicator and keep my eyes on the road, unlike a lot of older drivers I encounter!

mark tanti

Apr 20th 2009, 20:56

M.Abela, Just hear the news to conclude who are the wreckless drivers. Also to all those still opposing speed cameras, you either obey speed limits or pay fines. All careless drivers whatever the age should be severely punished because they are dangerous to other drivers.

R.Vella Bamber

Apr 20th 2009, 18:01

1. Driving very slowly on the outer lanes by all aged drivers can also be dangerous! 2. The sudden slow down (or braking) on approaching the recent addition of speed cameras is becoming even more dangerous.

Charles Micallef

Apr 20th 2009, 10:52

@ M, Mercieca

Your guess was 100% correct ..

The TVM news report showed these youngsters being handcuffed and taken away in a policve car......

Charles Micallef

Apr 20th 2009, 10:44

For driving a stolen car dangerously, failing to obey police orders and stop, and driving without insurance and god help any innocent person they could have injured as they would not be covered................I do hope that the Courts will apply a sentence to deter other such hooligans / car thieves.

TRW O'Neill

Apr 20th 2009, 08:50

With the standards of driving by older Maltese drivers, it is no wonder that some youngsters drive badly. however the police on average are too apathetic & lazy to chase them up.M Abela,there was a report about 2 weeks ago that youngsters are racing in the St Margarita area of Mosta, it had been reported to the Police who as usual had done nothing about it.Ms Mercieca has eyes Mr Abela, if she & others see youngsters driving badly , why should she not call them youngsters, if she sees older drivers doing the same she would no doubt call them adults. The important thing is the Police have been informed but have ignored the fact . WHY? It is amazing the numbers of apologists there are for bad drivers, perhaps the apologists are bad drivers also, & wish to be unnoticed doing so. Ban the bad drivers 7 make the roads safer for the rest of us,

D Cortis

Apr 19th 2009, 22:19

"Not all youngsters are careless drivers but almost all careless drivers are youngsters....there's a difference."

Which is why they pay ridiculously high fees for insurance.

However I beg to differ with respect to the notion "carelessness". Younger drivers tend to show "risk taking behaviour" especially in the younger age group (17-25). Younger drivers, as Aaron Muscat correctly noted, do not indicate more careless driving behavior. Actually with the new licensing regime, I think they know more than the earlier cohorts. In Malta, the "indicator" should be listed as an option for older drivers as it is less used than the A/C.

In a few years time, we will have a bigger problem - the baby boomers. With so many drivers over the age of 65 who tend to have less abilities to drive.

James Scerri

Apr 19th 2009, 20:48

@M.Mercieca...I bet the biggest penalty they can take is not money neither jail time. They all love driving so why don't we introduce a measure where you get driving licence suspended say for one year. Of course depending on gravity of situation. If driver is found driving without licence 1 year jail time and a further suspension of licence. We should be strong with these 'criminals' not be harsh and strong with innocent ppl.
@M. Abela : Yes, I fully agree with M Mercieca the absolute majority of the accidents are from youths!

Aaron Muscat

Apr 19th 2009, 20:39

To m.mercieca. I am a 21 year old male driver and I think that your argument is not fully correct. First of all, it is true that some youngsters are reckless drivers as one can especially notice on Weekends. Though these are a small percentage compared to : 1. middle aged people driving whilst using a MOBILE PHONE, 2. SMSing whilst driving, 3. looking the other way instead of focusing on the road, 4. turning without any warning, and the list goes on. So I think you would agree with me if I said that more driving discipline is needed.

M. Mercieca

Apr 19th 2009, 19:04

@M Abela
Firstly, I'm a female :) and secondly my comment was made solely because from my experience all the drivers that I see driving recklessly in my whereabouts are youngsters. We rarely hear of a 60 year old being involved in a serious car accident, except when he's the victim. Not all youngsters are careless drivers but almost all careless drivers are youngsters....there's a difference.

M Abela

Apr 19th 2009, 18:35

Mr Mercieca, why do you assume that all wreckless drivers are youngsters?

M. Mercieca

Apr 19th 2009, 18:25

Something must be seriously done about this reckless driving by youngsters. It's about time that it becomes punishable not by fines but by imprisonment and/or driver's license suspension or revocation. I'm from Mosta and the area that I live in, Sta. Margerita, has become terrorised by such drivers. They have been driving with high speeds and racing on our roads on all days of the week and at all times of the day. Police are well aware of the situation. I cannot trust my children to walk on the pavement let alone ride a bicycle on our roads. Immediate action needed before we see another innocent fatality.