Shrubs and trees on roundabouts

Francis Borg

Jun 28th 2009, 20:05

I am also a Highways Engineer in the UK and can fully understand the comments by D Darmanin and others in response to David Newton also from the UK. I simply point out the relevant UK design manual (see link below and look at fig. 8.3) where the visibility envelop is clearly shown. I do not think the roundabout in the photo quite complies. While there has been much improvement in general road design in Malta, there are lots of things that have yet to be markedly improved on existing situations.

The issue of traffic density by Mr. Darmanin is another point to comment on. I left Malta in 1972 when there were 300000 people on the Island and 85,000 vehicles ie. one vehicle to 3.5 people. Last year the figures were 400,000/250,000 or one vehicle to 1.6 people. No wonder those visiting the Island always wonder how you manage it although I am sure that it is now affecting the quality of life for all users and non users alike. If only that number could be forced down , life will be bliss on Malta.

http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol6/section2/td1607.pdf Check out fig.8.3

v.pulis

Jun 28th 2009, 16:20

Apart from this roundabout. Cospicua boasts other gems in traffic managment. Further down the road from the roundabout there is another gate St.Helen's gate. As one exits there is another roundabout which is so huge that cars coming up and manouvering the said roundabout find themselves at right angles with cars exiting the tunnel. Luckily, everyone seems to ignore this roundabout because it is so absurdly placed. Yet another roundabout is situated on St. Paul's hill as one is driving down to Cospicua from Ghajn Dwieli. This roundabout was built when this road was temporarily transformed into a two way road because of roadworks. Now it has become obsolete but it was not removed. If one were to use this roundabout one would have to enter the flow of traffic coming out of Senglea. A useless exercise as there is no need for such a maneuver if one is turning right into Cospicua. This roundabout too is fortunately ignored by sensible drivers. in fact only drivers new to the area use the roundabout.

v.pulis

Jun 28th 2009, 16:07

@ David Newton
Before telling us what you do in the UK I invite you to visit this spot and see for yourself.
I know that when approaching a round about one is supposed to reduce speed or stop altogether. In the case of this roundabout a car coming out of the tunnel even if it has slowed down can find itself right in the path of a vehicle coming round from behind the large bush seen in the picture. It only takes two seconds for the cars to collide. besides, there is another road feeding into the round about from the left and another one from the right.

Denis A. Darmanin

Jun 28th 2009, 15:48

Conclusion.
Driving in Malta is different than in the UK, where here you have many in a particualr service who require great pain to reprogram their personal and driving manners. While others who drive large vehicles, especialy those in the costruction industry, believe that God had granted them our roads to drive on as they please because of the size of their vehicle! This doesn't apply to all but to many and many car drivers are just as bad. The buzz words are education and enforcement.

Denis A. Darmanin

Jun 28th 2009, 15:36

@ David Newton.
With all respect to your profession and nationality, but we're in Malta, driving on Maltese roads and all else associated to our central Mediterranean country and temperament. Are you trying to tell me that an impaired vision is good at such crucial points and as soon as you drive off blindly, bang, on comes the other car as it has all right of way! Have you taken into account the number of cars per capita to per kilometer of road and of corners just about every 10 to 15 meters? Many UK relatives and friends often exclaim that they wonder how we drive on our roads; not just because of the condition of some. And I've been to the UK, to the Midlands and Scotland, and many of the round-abouts that I saw either had turf or turf with flowerbeds and low shrubs. Obviously, I'm not a Brit and therefore do not know it as much as you do. But I've also been to a few other central European countries and turf and flowers prevail. Oh, and I'm driving on Maltese roads for three days a week or more, so I'm talking from experiance too.

David Newton

Jun 28th 2009, 14:03

I work as a highways engineer in England and visual obstructions on roundabouts and approaching junctions are purposefully positioned there to reduce the sight line of traffic entering a potentially dangerous area and therefore forcing a reduction in speed. Following many years of study, these actions have proven to reduce accidents considerably.

Denis A. Darmanin

Jun 28th 2009, 12:13

Well said Mr Pulis. I had a scare of my life when driving SLOWLY there and a lady loaded with baskets was walking around the round-about and emerged from behind one of these shrubs, during a Tuesday Monti morning. I missed her because I was barely moving and got the foulest tongue-lashing in return.

@Pryce. Try driving along the Mriehel By-pass and stop at one of the round-abouts to give way. In two locations, the white serrated line where to stop is in line with shrubs that block your view. Moving forward half a meter will either get you fined or chance an accident. This is common in other locations. Sitting in a driver's seat of a car is not as high as in a van, bus or truck. ELC and ADT should not allow shrubs to be planted in such locations close to the end of central strips causing visual impairment to drivers.

Phil Pryce

Jun 28th 2009, 11:24

Without wishing to sound patronising, if drivers slowed down before a roundabout there wouldn't be a problem. I live near a big roundabout and I hear constant screeching of tyres as drivers hit the brakes, because they didn't look to see if any other car is on the roundabout. People approach roundabouts without slowing down at all. It's only common sense to slow down, just in case you have to stop.