Motorist critically injured, car overturns

Ray Gatt

Nov 30th 2009, 12:52

@ G Debono - I totally agree with what you wrote and would add that if we had perfect roads here, accidents would increase considerably since where ever we have a decent road, our show off pathetic drivers use it as a racing track. The irony is that most of our drivers would not even be given the chance to drive a few metres if they had to do the same on mainland European or British roads as there's surveillance and discipline all over the place. Over here once they get their licence, they think they've become F1 drivers. The worst part is that there's nobody to control these freaks. Disgraceful.

G McDowell

Nov 30th 2009, 11:47

exactly jennifer grech, black ice, snow, fog with 10 meters of visibility, gravel roads etc etc are some of the challengers that some of us have to drive on overseas not just some pot holes. Here is the effects of ice on a Russian tunnel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbMO94od8qA so once again don't blame the roads for incompetent driving.

Etienne Vella

Nov 30th 2009, 09:18

Daniel cuschieri,

that's why most of the speed cameras in Malta are a joke. I have seen speed cameras flashing because a car was driving at less than 57km/hr. so drivers drive at 45km/hr... and then? they speed to 100km/hr to make up for the time lost for driving slowly for a stupid speed camera at 45km/hr. speed cameras should be at 80km/hr. (driving 1km/hr more than that would flash - no more).

Robert Agius

Nov 30th 2009, 08:10

@daniel cuschieri yes i will drive with 80 km/hr infront the camera at imriehel and no you cannot drive with whatever speed you want. Drivers who drive at a very low speed are as dangerous as the drivers that drive 100km/hr plus. The national speed is 80km/hr.

The most frustrating part of speed cameras is that is only targets, "high speed" driving. It doesn't capture these drivers that are afraid of being captured by a camera so they drive at 30km/hr. Obviously you have to over take them.

Maltese driving is pathetic in two categories: drivers that driver at 100km/hr and drivers that drive at 20-30km/hr.

daniel cuschieri

Nov 29th 2009, 21:11

etienne vella if u think that the national speed is 80km per hr i suggest u drive at that speed in front of a camera.a person is free to drive at whatever speed he likes as long as he is not driving where people can get hurt.but on this wonderful island people think its a race track

Etienne Vella

Nov 29th 2009, 20:37

spot on Mike Farrugia!! strangely enough, accidents increased since the introduction of speed cameras.

Mr Lennon, it's not funny at all. it's a FACT.

and why are most accidents at the Coast Road? because we have so many VERY SLOW drivers... driving at 20 km/hr (and i am NOT joking). at times, if you dont over take them, you will spend more than 15 mins to drive along the Coast Road.

I am not in favour of high speeds. but slow drivers should be more responsible as well. One should at least drive at 40-50 km/hr. national speed is 80km/hr mind you.

Ken Williams

Nov 29th 2009, 11:41

Since the re-painting of the lines on the coast road reducing it to single lane in either direction I have witnessed overtaking on blind bends at excessive speeds as generally most drivers ignore the double white lines and drive completely on the wrong side of the road. It is a fatal accident waiting to happen. I keep telling friends that there will be another fatality soon as it will be a head on collision. This is driving to work in the mornings 7 -9.00am.

On returning home on friday evening, driving along the coast road towards St Pauls, one such car, in the dark was overtaking a bus at the top of the hill from Bahar ic Caghaq on the bend with all four wheels over the double white lines and with no headlights on. How I missed him, I do not know.

The problem is the Maltese driving standards as they believe that they can do almost whatever they want as there is never any authority around to stop them. It is a free for all, with accidents waiting to happen.

Adrian Williams

Nov 29th 2009, 02:09

Having lived in Malta for many years and having been a resident in the UK for over 20 years and having lived across the globe in many countries along the way .

I have one thing to say .. The roads in Malta are the worst on the Planet bar none , if the roads are OK and to standards please tell me why after many miles in a perfectly safe and well maintained car that I drove down from the UK did my tires last forever in Malta and never wear out, ( some needed replacement for pot hole damage but never for wearing out ) .

The same car in the UK needed tires every 12-15 K, in Malta the car did 35k and still the tires did not need replacing!!! The roads are softer than the tires is what Physics tells me . that means the roads get worn out by cars and truck.

THE WORST OF ANY COUNTRY I HAVE BEEN TOO ( 80 PLUS IN MY LIFE )

p.grima

Nov 29th 2009, 00:44

It is true that many of our roads are appalling, but I find that the road manners of most drivers are much worse, consequently adding unnecessary dangers.

I suggest that the authorities use the media to emphasize the use of direction indicators, and increase the fine on whoever is caught not using them.

jennifer grech

Nov 28th 2009, 22:52

i am a lady driver from uk married to maltese,do not keep blaming your roads we have ice, black ice which acts like diesel and we are taught how to deal with it if we are unfortunate to come across either on the road, most 2nd hand cars here are cut and shut imports,too many still with mobile texting e.c.t while driving and worn tyres i would recommend up to age 20 no car over 1000cc then 1400 untill 25 then 1600 or whatever after this age ,i have never known a country like malta who seem to know where the horn and stereo buttons are but not the indicator switch. lost controll my backside after such accidents a compulsery re test, vrt investigation and if car at fault a void of insurance claim and a hefty fine, if car found mechanically sound then hefty fine driving ban and charge of driving without due care and attention, if fatal a charge of manslaughter and lengthy sentence,totaly agree soft hedgeways instead of brick walls, and instead of police standing scratching their backsides or picking their nose at kerbside do your job the uniform is awarded to serve and protect

George Debono

Nov 28th 2009, 22:50

@S Atlamyob

@ Debono, Your comments and observations always seem to be right on the mark.
It's a pity you're not a single woman, because it would save me from having to show off so much in my car and motorcycles. :^)

Thanks - (blushing modestly... )

G :-)

George Debono

Nov 28th 2009, 22:46

@ Mallia

@"""""""""""So...according...to....you,.....our.....roads....are....perfect...right? Just...unbelivable how....people............like....you can say such a thing!"""""""""""


EH???..........Did I ever say that ??? NO ! ..........Of course I didn't.

Just unbelivable how people like you can say such a thing !........Quite! :-))

What I did say - and say again - is that our roads are mostly lousy and we use this as an excuse for stupid accidents which result from bad driving.

And I repeat, roads in the EU countries are marvellous but in northern countries these roads become infinitely more treacherous than our lousy roads most of the year because of all the weather-induced hazards. But one never sees silly accidents like crashing into walls or trees or turning a car over even when the roads are iced over. How do you explain this?

Our style of road accident is the result of mad driving and don't blame the roads.

In any case, accidents are also common on our new EU style roads and other perfectly good roads like the coast road (well most of it, if you like) - For instance there was a horrific fatal accident in which some youngsters lost their life on the beautiful brand-new road from Attard to Zebbug.

J Mallia

Nov 28th 2009, 21:07

@ George Debono

So according to you, our roads are perfect right ? Just unbelivable how people like you can say such a thing !

S Atlamyob

Nov 28th 2009, 19:39

Another game of "guess what happened" "Fill in the blanks"

@ Debono, Your comments and observations always seem to be right on the mark.
It's a pity you're not a single woman, because it would save me from having to show off so much in my car and motorcycles. :^)
Re accidents;
Most of us don't know what happened in either accident, so it’s wise not to speculate that it was either of the poor individuals fault. Even if they were at fault, (motorcyclist and driver) they are still somebody's loved ones and deserve to presumed innocent at this stage...
A better idea might be to pool our thoughts and observations and come up with ways in which we can make things, in this case road conditions, safer, much safer.
We can start by upgrading our road surfaces from 3rd World to modern after all, how much is human life worth?
Recycling tires and putting them into the tarmac mix may be an option.
Off camber bends need be made on camber bends.
Hard objects such as poles...need be moved from the outside of bends to inside...
Visible markings, signs, lighting,...need be installed ubiquitously.
Planting indiginous soft/firm vegitation on roadsides...

James Green

Nov 28th 2009, 17:48

@ some of you
Just yesterday a Traffic Policeman skidded on his motorcyle, aka lost control.
Was he speeding, was he DUI, was he inexperienced? Highly unlikely.
Atrocious road surface. Highly likely.
Just today I was present during tarmac laying at the B'kara bypass. The wearing surface seems the same old soft stone (read cheap) which will probably have a coefficient of friction similar to melted butter in a few weeks of use.
Anyone who has driven abroad will know what I am talking about.
And the rub is now we are patching bits and pieces not a whole road (again smacks of penny pincing).

George Debono

Nov 28th 2009, 17:06

@Jonathan Zammit

RE """How can anyone show off in a Mazda 121 ??????"""

Very, very simple - get in car, switch on engine, put car in gear, place foot on gas pedal and try to push it through the floor. The more noise (tyres and engine) you make the better. &c.&C . Most impressive.

RE """"I blame the roads!!!""""

Well, they say "A bad craftsman blames his tools" - so one can equally say "a bad driver blames the …….." (fill in blank)

RE """In every EU country you'll find …….. perfect roads"""

Yes but in these countries you also have SNOW, FROST, BLACK ICE and FOG much of the time in winter. Ever driven for weeks on foggy icy roads in the winter ? (I have, I worked for years in Denmark).

We simply have it too easy here and still have the stupidest of accidents even in perfect weather conditions. When we one day have EU-style roads we will still hit trees and turn cars over ….

Sorry Jonathan, Its not the roads, but us.

G

G McDowell

Nov 28th 2009, 16:12

In other countries, well mine at least, I get pulled over at least a dozen times a year and breathalysed, checked that my car has the required paper work, my license in up to date etc etc, how many here have been pulled over by the police let alone breathalysed? As for the roads, meh they are a bit rough but not as bad as some seem to think. Its the poor standard of driving, the "boy racer" mentality and add to that the amount of "sunday drivers" on the road, if you are holding up traffic, pull over and don't be so arrogant. More passing lanes on the coast road also wouldn't go amiss.

Jonathan Zammit

Nov 28th 2009, 13:17

@ George Debono

How can anyone show off in a Mazda 121 ??????

I blame the roads!!! To much damage, slipper not proportionally centred....disaster!!! To reduce trafiic and pollution etc....the GOV should introduce more scooters and cheap licenses to the people who use them!! More parking, less traffic...etc..

BUT, we cannot, as the road are a disaster!! 10% of the ppl will die using scooters as it easy to crash!!!

ooooohhhhhh MALTA ROADS!!!!

In every EU country you'll find loads of scooter and perfect roads,,, and in MALTA?????

George Debono

Nov 28th 2009, 12:12

@ ...a sultana peregin

RE ................. the same thing that's happening in every country around the world...please stop believing in the ONLY IN MALTA religion

NO it is not.

Unfortunately there exists in Malta this obsession with cars as a means of showing off. This is possibly because we are a small island where, because of high visibility, the car is a paramount status symbol. There is also no police control. Basically we are mostly a bunch of softies and find the car as an easy means of showing off. Anybody showing off and driving stupidly in, say, a country like Demark would soon be a laughing stock.

The sooner our softie young men get out of their car and show their real macho worth unaided by props such as the beloved automobile, the better. The first thing they should do is move out from living ever so comfortably at home with Mummy.

Lost control? No just plain stupid show-off driving. - Uff !

G

Charles Micallef

Nov 28th 2009, 11:49

A number of reasons for losing control whilst driving....

1,.....Mechanical failure
2......Puncture
3......Under the influence of Drink / Drugs
4......Too tired
5..... Speeding
6......Using mobile phone while driving
7......Overtaking in dangerous corners
8......Fuel spillage on the road

It will be interesting to hear from the authorities as to which are the biggest contributory factor that causes such incidents although I can guess that Items one and two are least suspect!!

A Lennon

Nov 28th 2009, 11:41

This has to be the funniest comment I have read in years - well done Mike "Mike Farrugia - I blame the speed cameras. The accidents have multiplied since they have been introduced!"

Kevin Camilleri

Nov 28th 2009, 11:37

Stop blaming speed. I lost control of my car @ 30KMPH - not because I was speeding but because of diesel on the road.

I always pull up a question... ANOTHER ONE on the coast road? It is the most dangerous road in Malta, yet no one has ever done anything! It is not a question of age or time of driving, even though one cannot ignore these facts. However, as Mr. Peregin said, this is not an Only in Malta thingy.

CLIFFORD BORG

Nov 28th 2009, 11:16

Every Sunday, Mellieha By-Pass, St Paul's Bay By-Pass and Cirkewwa Rd will be turned like a racing track. Motorists drive in them with a heavy speed. Police should go in these places with portable speed cameras.

a sultana peregin

Nov 28th 2009, 11:00

@ james

what's happening? the same thing that's happening in every country around the world...please stop believing in the ONLY IN MALTA religion

Mike Farrugia

Nov 28th 2009, 10:52

I blame the speed cameras. The accidents have multiplied since they have been introduced!

j.schembri

Nov 28th 2009, 10:36

I TOTALLY AGREE....... ALWAYS LOSING CONTROL......BECAUSE OF WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

JOSEPH ZAMMIT

Nov 28th 2009, 10:10

Can anybody enlighten us what "lost control" in practice really means?! How does it happen and WHY? It is "causing" too many deaths and injuries and God bless us all, we do nothing about it.
Did we loose control of our responsibilities???

John Borg

Nov 28th 2009, 09:57

@James Green
I beg to differ on 3 points out of 4 that you mentioned as to the probable causes of so many accidents. High speeds is a probable yes, whereas the other factors do play a part, but the most obvious reasons are drivers age (most are young and inexperienced), time of accident ( a coincidence that the vast majority are in the early hours of the morning?) nearly most are on Friday or saturday night (another coincidence?) and physical condition of the drivers is a worrying factor, especially if tiredness and alcohol are factored into the equation. It is alarming to note that highly visible police presence is lacking on the roads leading out of Paceville. Being the father of two young adults, I plead with the Police authorities to clamp down on this now nightmarish trend of reckless driving in the early hours of the weekends. One only has to venture into Paceville on any weekend and wonder how so many people can manage to drive home after witnessing "their state of mind" only moments before. How many more people have to die or be maimed before we stand up and take action?

Peter Murray

Nov 28th 2009, 09:44

Were these young drivers on their way to start an early morning shift at work or is it that more than likely they were returning home after putting in a long shift in a nightclub.What was the true cause of the much abused phrase"lost control-which could also reflect their physical condition and state of mind?

Albert Bezzina

Nov 28th 2009, 09:38

Mr Green, in Malta road incident analysis are pre-neanderthal. The NSO is fed very basic numbers and is unable to draw conclusions and experts unable to draw learned policies. Data collection should be the job of the police, ADT, warden service and insurance companies. On the other hand, hords of public servants are involved in fudging statistics to make the economy run by the Government of the day look rosey.
Wishing a speedy and uneventful recovery to the injured.

C Cassar

Nov 28th 2009, 09:21

nearly all of these accidents happen in the early hours of the morning. Doesn't that tell us something?

joe Aquilina

Nov 28th 2009, 09:08

I would have to agree with Mr Green but it would also be interesting to look at number of accidents after long periods of dry weather followed by rain.

James Green

Nov 28th 2009, 08:52

Way too many 'lost control' incidents..
What's happening, high speeds, driver inexperience, damaged road surface, slippery roads?
Can we have some statistics please?
AND act on the results.
PLEASE!