Imqaret prove fatal for elderly man

Joe Xuereb

Nov 30th 2009, 16:17

Salvu Grima, you are 73 years old. You have seen the rough side of life and then some. You had a sweet tooth or very likely, you meant to share them with your little ones. How ironic. How unfair to die for a humble maqrut. I an sorry man. My friend Salvu had to go like this. And I did not even met him. But we shared Hamrun. Rest in peace dear soul. I know, I know! Life is often unfair.

Raymond Sammut

Nov 30th 2009, 15:35

Sue Mercieca -- "There isnt a pedestrian crossing near where the accident happened if I am not mistaken." What they put there is a chapel. From memory, it's only a few metres away.

Sue Mercieca

Nov 30th 2009, 10:53

Shouldnt all hawkers be licensed? Who issues such hawkers licenses? Do the health authorities have a say where licenses are granted? Cant we update legal notices so that we do not have a hawker - be it vegetable van or imqaret in every corner? And what about those punching machines and electric rocking toys taking space from promenades while being an eyesore themselves? who issues such permits?? Unless these issues are addressed - we cannot start to talk about love for the environment! And then its obvious that we're sorry for the victims - who wouldnt be! Pictures of accidents are not shown to hurt the sentiments of those involved but for newsworthiness and hopefully for some education to pedestrians. There isnt a pedestrian crossing near where the accident happened if I am not mistaken.

Raymond Sammut

Nov 28th 2009, 21:34

@ Alison Natalie Keeler

This photo tells a number of things which the authorities need to consider. For example, the signage should not be placed so close to the stall. It is totally useless where it is located. The stall itself is too close to the passing traffic, and the police should have ticketed the driver on the spot way before the accident happened (most likely). The fact that the windscreen is so battered shows clearly that the driver was badly traumatized. Yet, from what this report is saying, no counseling was provided for this driver. Luckily he had his father to come and assist him. These are very serious shortcomings on the part of the authorities, and thanks to this photo, even tragic as it is, at least we can deduce some of the things that need fixing before more accidents and fatalities occur.

martin saliba

Nov 28th 2009, 21:33

One thing that makes me really angry is that if someone stopsfor a few minutes on acorner they are finedbut hawkers are allowed to park illegally all day .

Galea. L

Nov 28th 2009, 20:55

The question is why are such hawkers allowed to park there and in other major roads where there is constant danger to anyone crossing apart from the food being contaminated by all types of fuel fumes? Where are our Health Inspectors? One can name many such hawkers and places, but I am sure that the authorities know about them and are turning a blind eye.

Michelle Sant You are right. This is apart from the neighbors having to suffer the smell of cooking which permeates into everything, the houses, clothes, curtains everything and they smell terrible. You smell like a walking mixed-food dish even if you have just washed. No such shops should be allowed in built-up areas.

Alison Natalie Keeler

Nov 28th 2009, 19:10

What a sad accident. Condolences to his family.

Perhaps The Times could once again refrain from publishing photos showing both the car which killed the gentleman and bloodstains in the road. How does this photograph add to our understanding of the news item? To me, it is inappropriate and potentially very distressing, particularly to all involved. Shame on you.

Vince DeBono

Nov 28th 2009, 18:12

Pity we had to have our consciousness about the danger posed by hawkers and such shops on main streets.

I see 2 other issues. How healthy are foodstuffs kept on open display with dust, insects and exhaust pollution?

2 How fair is the hawker system? A restaurant or bar has a lot of license conditions to observe and payments. Hawkers go to the best locations ( main streets or roads ) and get all the passing trade at minimum investment.

I think hawkers should have a time frame for the system to be dismantled and that includes the Festa kiosks too.

Ramon Casha

Nov 28th 2009, 17:03

There are many instances where hawkers set up their stalls in places that are dangerous for other cars to stop. In addition there are many drivers of heavy vehicles who stop their trucks close to food shops for some pastizzi and coffee, partially blocking the roads there. Do wardens take any notice of these?

Mary Camilleri

Nov 28th 2009, 12:15

Update - Saturday A.M. - No imqaret sellers set up today on the Rabat road.....if only it were yesterday!

Michelle Sant

Nov 28th 2009, 11:59

it's not just the roadside stalls that are dangerous - have you ever seen the way people just stop in the middle of the road or in an obstructive manner near a pastizzi shop or a take-away place very often blocking off an entire lane and making drivers cross over into oncoming traffic to get past????? It's amazing the police and/or wardens never seem to notice that!!

Kevin Camilleri

Nov 28th 2009, 11:45

I pass through this road twice daily. The part where the stalls are set up is the widest bit of the road. I will not argue whether the stalls should be placed there or not, however, I beleive that no main road should be a place for stalls.

It is much more a question of how dangerous some pedestrians cross roads, both urban and main roads. Sometimes drivers are blamed - I think that a driver should never been blamed for an accident. Becuase a road is there for cars, if you decide to cross it, you have to make sure you are not in danger of being hit. If you are crossing on a zebra crossing, make sure that the cars have stopped for you to cross and not just jump in the middle of the road just because you think a Zebra is safe. What happens if the driver does not happen to see you or if there is a brake failure? If a driver hits a person on a zebra he is charge with involontary homicide, however it's the pedestrian first who has to respect himself. Condoliances to the victim's family for the tragic death.

Raymond Sammut

Nov 28th 2009, 11:32

Stalls require a roadside bay, and signage needs to be positioned at least 1/2 km upstream. Unless these facilities are first provided by councils, permits should not be given. This road is familiar, and is dangerous enough without stalls. And the affected driver would definitely have required counseling. Only his father seems to have attended the scene to assist him.

Mary Camilleri

Nov 28th 2009, 10:59

Do these booths have, or indeed require, any police permits, or can they just set up willy-nilly? Do they come under any health and safety regulations? They certainly did not prove healthy or safe for the poor departed man who desired a few imqaret yesterday morning! How many more of these accidents have to occur before we acknowledge that a quick snack on a busy road is NOT a good idea?
RIP Mr Grima.

Mike Farrugia

Nov 28th 2009, 10:41

I do not want to blame the hawker for the unfortunate accident but it is highly dangerous to set-up a booth on a busy arterial road. It is dangerous even for themselves as one can easily lose control of a car and end up crashing into them. Unfortunately, such hawkers, vegetable vendors, ice-cream vans, fish and other vendors should set-up in streets with less traffic.

C. Farrugia

Nov 28th 2009, 10:26

these stalls selling, vegetables, groceries, hot dogs and other things are sprouting all over the island and should be closed down. They are dangerous, extremely dangerous and this proves it. Malta's "highways" should not be transformed into markets with stalls all over the place. Cars park in the most dangerous places in order to purchase items. They should all be removed immediately.