Update 3: Man dies in traffic accident

Joseph E Briffa

Nov 29th 2009, 18:16

A most unfortunate accident for the pedestrian and for the driver. This road is considered one of Malta's 'highways' and does not permit pedestrians to cross from one side to the other. The presence of a stall is to my mind completely out of place. Condolences to the family of the pedestrian who lost his life and our moral support to the driver who was involved in this sad accident very probably through no fault of his own.

O. Sant' Angelo

Nov 29th 2009, 13:23

@M. Pace
Personal experiences can lead to biased generic opinions such as yours which you wrongly state as facts. What are the stats to support your "Most accidents... are mostly.." statement? Should, God forbid, your "personal experience" been that of a victim, your contribution below would have been strikingly different.

@Joe Scicluna
Triq Durumblat does come to mind. Whilst the measures you propose may help, they will not lessen any of the crazy overspeeding and overtaking that occurs there even if the vehicle in front happens to be driving at the legal limit.

Joe Scicluna

Nov 29th 2009, 11:00

Let me start by offering my condolences to the family of the deceased and support to the drive who ran over him as fate would have it. The official investigations should shed further light into the matter.

I am concerned that like Duramblat Road in Mosta, this main road despite the volume of traffic which passes through at all hours of the day and night, remains without pavements or a cycle lane too. There are neither pedestrian crossings nor lights or a footbridge for that matter.

Please kindly make the roads in question safer for all. Can we access EU funds for specific road safety measures even at local councils level?

B Sant

Nov 29th 2009, 10:46

a prophecy: soon a speed camera will be installed - together with traffic lights and zebra crossing

thats the soution in this country instead of remopving the hawker from that place

Michael Neville Cassar

Nov 28th 2009, 09:01

I quite agree that all Kiosks in major roads are a risk and temptation for buyers and a traffic hazard. The authority should take action against such habits, it is with sadness that the driver and the dead man have to pay for inaction by the ADT or who ever are is responsible. All these hawkers and Kiosks in street corners and other improperly situated positions should be instructed as where and at what areas are allowed to stop.

M. Pace

Nov 27th 2009, 23:55

Although everyone always points fingers to the drivers, one must realise that most accidents of this type are most often initially caused by the pedestrians themselves. Why? They just cross the road (with no zebra crossing of course) even though they see the car coming and similar situations.

Furthermore, our beloved courts, always favour the pedestrians, and they ALWAYS get compensated for an accident which originally was caused by the pedestrians themselves. If the pedestrian have not crossed the road blindly, the accident would have never happened in the first place.

Even pedestrians have their laws but these are never followed or enforced. The driver always gets the blame even if he is driving within speed limits and in order. As if you the driver have the time to react and stop the car if the pedestrian decided to cross the road just meters away from you!

I don't know what happened in this case, but I am just talking from my own personal experience.

R. Gauci

Nov 27th 2009, 20:18

1) Dik il-gabbana hemmekk hi out of place u qed tohloq periklu, ghandha titnehha minnufih. Hemmekk mhux post fejn bniedem jieqaf jixtri l-imqaret imbaghad kif jigri spiss hawn Malta ssib xi galantom, jiqaflek bla indicator halli jixtri l-imqaret, tidhol go fih u tehel kollox int, ghall-gieh l-imqaret. 2) Jien wiehed li nkun minn ta` l-ewwel li nipponta subghajja kontra x-xufiera meta jsehh incident, pero hawnekk nara li ma kellu l-ebda tort. Dik it-triq mhux triq li taqsam fiha u meta taghmel dan ghandek toghqod ferm attent ghax it-triq hi traffikuza u generalment min ikun qed isuq fiha jkun ghaddej b'certu velocita.

A Mizzi

Nov 27th 2009, 19:30

Sad accident: I'm sorry for Pedestrian fatal accident and also for driver. Hope it was not a crossing to reach the Mqaret Kiosk and Vegetable stalls which have appeared constantly on the side road. I appeal to the authorities to check on the regularity of these hawkers. Can they block the traffic barriers which are situated on that road ?? Cars are stopping dangerously to buy from these hawkers.

Etienne Cachia

Nov 27th 2009, 17:08

@ Franco Farrugia Its very easy to comment and say “ to drive in a civilised and responsible manner.”. I’m a daily user to this road more than once a day.. and I must tell you I cannot see any zebra crossing in that MAIN ROAD more over I never saw anyone crossing that MAIN road. Pedestrians sometimes over abuse even on zebra crossing they just cross without waiting for cars to stop, this happens to me quite frequently and also to all the drivers.

Chrissey Zammit

Nov 27th 2009, 16:59

@ Franco Farrugia. My sentiments exactly. Educate ALL drivers as to the dangers whilst driving. Care for all pedestrians, cyclists and other car users as you would care for your loved ones. WHAT !!! does a stop sign mean !!! in Malta its means keep driving !!! what are you supposed to do at a roundabout !!!! NEXT time you drivers approach a roundabout take note of what happens. Worth observing to make sure you dont do it NEXT TIME

ABORG

Nov 27th 2009, 16:40

very sad accident:(

@ Franco Farrugia
not only education to motorists but also on pedestrians not to cross where they should not. from the video i saw that there is a double yellow line indicating to motorists no overtaking of lanes, let alone crossing pedestrians.

Franco Farrugia

Nov 27th 2009, 15:48

@ Dr George Debono - You see, sir, the problem with traffic does not lie in the fact that ONLY CYCLISTS are at risk, but that the traffic itself is a major concern. Not only cyclists are in danger, but also pedestrians and fellow-car users! It is not a crusade in favour of cyclists that one must wage, but education on how to drive in a civilised and responsible manner.