Roman Krejci
Driving perils on Maltese roads
As another three people die on Maltese roads it seems the only sane ones among those who chose to comment publicly on the accident are the relatives of the deceased young man, in their moment of grief, for they seem to have been the only ones reported not to have lambasted the government for not building a centre strip on the road where the fatality occurred.
When is it going to dawn on people that Malta's roads are not built for speed? And that the state cannot be held responsible for a wrong choice people make when taking the wheel of a motorised vehicle?
Malta in its entirety is no bigger than the size of a city with virtually no non-built up areas separating one town from another and merely a stretch of road of perhaps a maximum of three kilometres in length, with a few converted girna along the way.
I suppose people don't realise how hilarious it is for foreigners to see the number of four-wheeled vehicles, which are primarily designed for long-distance travel and extreme weather conditions such as snow, on Malta's roads. Some holes in the roads, which have not been resurfaced to date, and the occasional use of a country lane or perhaps a crossing to Malta's sister island do not justify the use of a four-wheeled vehicle or a relatively high-powered car, for that matter, which, therefore, only serves to pollute and ruin this island further.
With a speed limit of only 50km/h, how much time can one gain in a distance of a maximum of 27 kilometres? Is people's conscience solely their ego or perhaps they simply have no problem in paying more money to insurance companies and/or to have their cars serviced and maintained substantially more often?
They can run at very low miles per gallon in a practically in-town island where there is no momentum helping to push these vehicles forward.
Of course, this is not to say that the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) has nothing to answer for. They could, for example explain why right of way traffic signs have been put up all along the road leading from the airport to Birżebbuġa when it is so obvious which driver has the right of way, given that the adjacent roads are of minor importance. They could also use mobile speed camera to randomly identify drivers who adopt a Lighting McQueen attitude when they come across a static speed camera by religiously slowing down just prior to passing the camera and accelerating as soon as it is not possible for the camera to detect the car's speed. Most certainly they could zoom in on noisy mobile discotheques, which are not only offensive to people who are compelled to hear them but a hazard to drivers who undoubtedly are not in a position to hear and make way for an emergency vehicle.
Could the ADT explain how it is permissible for cars to be heavily accessorised with lights in all colours and places? These things cause undue distraction to drivers. And as if that were not enough, how about the extremely dark-tinted windows that do not allow one to identify a driver in case of an accident? Surely there are ways and means for the ADT to hold random checks on cars from time to time to ensure that laws and regulations are observed; it takes no expert to classify a vehicle as being a dangerous machine. It is high time people realised that motorised vehicles are not a deluxe extension of a matchbox toy but a necessary evil in society which should be used cautiously and not to try to impress.
In terms of lights, is it so abnormal for one to have headlights on throughout the day as is done in the greater part of Europe? While headlights are useless for illumination, they are very useful for identifying moving cars at a distance because it is easier to notice moving light sources than to identify the shape of a car and looking at their much weaker signal lights, even in broad daylight. So third party drivers should not feel obliged to warn other drivers to switch off their headlights. Many people and, especially, foreigners are more than simply aware of the highway code and what constitutes safe driving and so switch their headlights on purposely. Perhaps Maltese drivers should focus on the way they drive and make an effort to ensure they use their indicators when they are required to do so.
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J Martinelli
Sep 9th 2009, 08:45
Mr. Krejci made some astute observations but did not elaborate on the real causes of fatal accidents.
Good roads help in the minds of many but statistically it may be proven otherwise. The wider, the better roads are, the more of a temptation, especially to young inexperienced drivers, they become to open up, speed, and take a chance passing a 'slow' driver ahead of them even if the slow driver happens to be driving at the correct maximum speed.
Continuous running headlights are mandatory in the EU on vehicles built from 2007 on (if I am not mistaken) and therefore should not be an issue, eventually. And yes, even in blinding sunshine, the headlights remain invaluable because it is the angle and not the intensity of the light directed at oncoming (opposite) traffic which alerts the drivers of an oncoming vehicle.
Mr. Krejci is also correct in pointing out the unnecessary use of four wheeled vehicles in Malta although I am quite sure that he meant 'four wheel drive' vehicles which are worse polluters since they use much more fuel to drive all four wheels as opposed to most 'family' cars which only power two of the four wheels.
Joe Anastasi
Sep 8th 2009, 22:13
Mr. Krejci's latter makes many interesting points.
Agreed that we shouldn't try driving faster than the lousy local roads permit. On these roads we should all be using horses and carts.
But conversely, shouldn't government have the decency and respect to it's long suffering, tax paying, road users to upkeep our roads and make them at least 3rd rate European instead of 6th rate African?
If Government produced decent roads and ADT set them out safely, traffic would be able to travel faster in much more safety. But I suppose pigs might also fly.
By 4 wheeled vehicles I presume Mr. Krejci means 4 wheel drive vehicles. I don't own one, but I can understand why people buy them. They are designed primarily for off road or unmade roads. In other words ideal for Malta.
Christopher Ripard
Sep 8th 2009, 20:21
Clearly, the ADT is doing nothing effective to facilitate driving in this country. Instead of half-assed speed cameras everywhere, they should get the authorities to crack down on the nutters on our roads. Driving slow in the fast lane (when there is one), almost total lack of use of indicators, no respect for 2-wheelers, driving with a gorilla-like arm draped out of the window, failing to 'filter over' before turning, mad overtakes , , , these are the norm, Exceptionally, I have also witnessed someone who STOPPED at a GREEN light (I was behind him), someone who, after going off a roundabout, then did a U turn back onto it against the flow of traffic (I was behind/in fornt of her). I am sure you readers al have your own bizarre experiences to relate. Once we start driving civilisedly, then we can really see what we need to do next.
Galea. L
Sep 8th 2009, 15:25
B Agius
What happened is that they reduced a lot of roads to a single lane and getting people furious especially in summer with all the heat driving behind some slowcoach truck, public transport bus or heavy vehicle swallowing their black choking smoke.
Roman Krejci
"Some holes in the roads.." You didn't mean some road between the holes did you?
"with a few converted girna along the way" Can you please advise how you can convert a girna?
"In terms of lights, is it so abnormal for one to have headlights on throughout the day as is done in the greater part of Europe?"
We have BLINDING SUNSHINE not the dull drab weather which most of Europe has. You have to have sun glasses or you will be blinded by sunshine.
Paul Ruggier
Sep 8th 2009, 15:10
What is the fuss about "four-wheeled vehicles" ??
B Agius
Sep 8th 2009, 11:17
It is true Malta's roads are not built for speed. Well Malta's roads are hardly built at all. That;s what the Government should be blamed for - ie to achieve at least a rudimentary standard where roads - ALL ROADS- have to be at a certain agreed standard with required street furniture and signs and road markings maintained properly. The State should be held accountable for that. But in Malta pigs might fly before that happens! - I remember last time I visited Malta there was a furore because the Government spend a good sum of money getting advice from German road experts that told the Govt , inter alia, that Maltese roads were too wide etc etc Of course what they meant is that most Maltese roads are not managed with lanes etc What happened to all that advice and the promises that were made then? Not much I suspect - except for a few roundabouts that are doubling up as Malta's only green open spaces! Great!!
Isobel Mcgonigle
Sep 8th 2009, 10:24
A comment from a tourist on holiday,in the Buggiba area
The hotel was first class,would recommend it to anyone (Coastline Hotel) enjoyed our holiday in Malta,but if your thinking of renting a car ,forget it.You take your life,in your hands,to venture on the roads of Malta.The Maltese drivers,their knowledge of the highway code,could be written on the back of a postage stamp
Says it all.