Updated: Accidents end 2009, start 2010
The condition of the 48-year-old man from St Paul’s Bay who was critically injured in a traffic accident last night has improved and he is no longer in danger. He is being kept in hospital for oberservation.
The police said the accident was the result of a head on collision between the Toyota the man was driving in Burmarrad Road, St Paul’s Bay and a Land Rover driven by a 19-year-old.
The man had to be taken out of his car by Civil Protection officers.
Another three people were sent to in hospital after they were injured in a traffic accident in Marsascala Road, Zabbar, early this morning. They were in an Opel and a Punto.
The police said that the Opel driver, a 22-year-old man from Zejtun, had two passengers - one was slightly injured, the other escaped without any injuries. The driver is being kept in hospital for observation. The Punto driver, a 27-year-old man from Xaghra, was sent home after treatment.
The police said that other accidents took place last night including in Mgarr Road, Qala. A 28-year-old man from Victoria was taken to the Gozo Hospital suffering from slight injuries following an accident in which his Golf crashed head-on with a Bora, driven by a 20-year-old man from Nadur. He was later sent home.
The Victoria man was accompanied by a 25-year-old woman from Xaghra.
In Sta Lucija Avenue, Paola, a car driven by a 29-year-old man from Zejtun overturned when he crashed into an electricity pole.
A similar accident took place in Mosta Road, Lija where a 40-year-old man from Naxxar also crashed into an electricity pole.
28 Comments
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J Pace
Jan 3rd 2010, 13:05
Having a licence doesn't necessarily mean you know how to drive!!
'Losing control of the car' basically means one doesn't know the power
he has under his feet and how to control it.
Knowledge of driving comes with experience and nothing else!
B. Stott
Jan 3rd 2010, 12:22
at C. Demanuele
Speaking as a 19 year old driver, why should I, who stick to road rules and laws, be punished by your ideas and so called restrictions? Why should I, who passed my drivers test fair and square and by driving well, be punished by yours (and many others) ridiculous accusations? Do you even know that half of these 19 year olds have licenses or insurance? Because if you truly think about it, I doubt they do.
Every day there is an accident in this country and it is always put down to "the ages of 19 -" whatever age the accident victim was. It's ridiculous. It is a known fact that most drivers in this country can NOT drive. Indicators aren't used. Roundabout rules are non existent. Road markings are ignored. And you have the sheer cheek to say that it's the young drivers?! Think again. Don't go blaming the young ones such as myself please, Miss Demanuele because it's not only "us" it is also the rest of the drivers in Malta.
Good day.
claire demanuele
Jan 3rd 2010, 00:00
its true the roads are bad but if u look at the ages of the guys crashing are all 18 to 29 is that not telling us something myself am only 35 but my nephew has just turned 19 i'm scared when he goes out as a driver myself knowes the maddness there is out there but once they get their licence they think their the best i think they should have a tem permit with certin times and rules till they r fit to drive i think 20or less of an hour lessons does not make u a driver some thing has to b done
Raymond Sammut
Jan 2nd 2010, 13:18
@ J.Abela
The longest trip from A to B on Malta would be, say, 20km. At 50K, this trip would take just 24mins. There is hardly any justification to overtake when the car in front is already going at this speed. With a little patience, everyone on Malta can learn to adapt to a speed limit of 50K. It's up to the traffic police to enforce it right across Malta's road network.
It can be shown through mathematical modelling that increasing speed limits can lead to congestion at hot spots (and bottle-necks) in the network. 50K could well be the optimal speed limit for Malta; allowing for smoother traffic flows.
Vehicles travelling below the speed limit should, in general, be in the inner lane. From what you are saying, education on this international convention is also needed in Malta.
saviour caruana
Jan 2nd 2010, 12:07
to all of you out there. do you know what really a bad example of driving is ? when you are waiting behind a number of cars in a side road and some breave guy overtakes all the que becuse he thinks he is better. Secondly no one uses indicators they are jsut there for decoration. What to say about lights in tunnels. And the worst... you are waiting to go out of a side road into a main road and the brave driver comes near you, creating a obsticale for you to see cars coming from both sides. What about these cars that leave a cloud of black think exhaust ??? ......
J.Abela
Jan 2nd 2010, 11:30
@Raymond Sammut
I'm sorry to say that it's actually your comment that is limited.
If a person is driving at 50km/h in a main non urban road and has a queue of cars behind him wanting to overtake. They must do so at least at 70km/h to avoid a head on collision with a car coming from the other side, which would have an effect of a car crashing at 140km/h..
A different example: a car driving at 40 on the outer lane. You must overtake from the slow lane - if a car coming from a side road exceeds the stop sign limit, you take it in full from the side.
You know where the lack of education stands? When people drive at 60km/h in urban towns and at 50km/h in the outer lane of some artery!
j deguara
Jan 2nd 2010, 11:28
It seems that the incredible number of serious traffic accidents during the past year will not influence the way we Maltese people drive. We NEVER learn from mistakes.
Its rather stupid putting the blame on everything - on those who drive slowly, on heavily loaded trucks, on speed cameras, on the poor condition of certain roads - when the ones we should blame are those driving recklessly. Its the ignorance, stupidity, arrogance and lack of respect we show in our roads that we should blame. Cos we Maltese have this freak sense of ideology of "Me, Myslef, and I". I don't know if its the stress and tiredness, or just being fast and furious - another fool's sense of looking cool.
I have seen people overtake where they shouldn't, people skidding and drifting in blind corners cos they lost control, people doing the impossible to catch the Gozo ferry, people who just don't care where they MUST stop, people who can't resist drag racing whenever they stop on traffic lights, people who feel frustrated and agitated just because someone overtook them in a double lane. People .... GROW UP!
Christopher Grainger
Jan 2nd 2010, 11:08
The road culture and mentality here is the most lethal I have seen anywhere .. end of story.
But it is apparently somebody else's problem, why after all should the police come out of their cozy stations and enforce traffic law ? because they have no money or mandate to do so.
Traffic warden culture is apparently the name of the game, and that game will cost lives.
G. Attard
Jan 2nd 2010, 09:28
I agree with Etienne Vella. I also cannot stand people who drive slow on the fast lane and it never fails to come across a slow driver on the coast road you cannot over take! It's like they are doing it on purpose just to tick off the people behind them!!!
STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!
Raymond Sammut
Jan 2nd 2010, 01:48
@ Etienne Vella -- You said to A Abela: "if you drive at 50km/hr even in a by pass... then i am sorry to tell you that you are as dangerous as those driving at 100km/hr."
This seems to be a widespread misconception among drivers on Malta's roads. It shows the lack of education that exists among Malta's motorists and highlights the need for the Maltese government to embark on a public campaign aimed at raising awareness.
In this case, if driving at 50K required a stopping distance of, say, 10 metres (depending on the mass of the vehicle and the surface condition of the road), then at 100K the driver would need 40 metres. That would increase the chance of colliding with the car in front by four times as much.
The statement: ❝if you drive at 50km/hr you are as dangerous as those driving at 100km/hr❞ ▬which is so often and blatantly blurted out here on The Times▬ is utterly false.
Etienne Vella
Jan 1st 2010, 20:55
@A Abela - if you drive at 50km/hr even in a by pass... then i am sorry to tell you that you are as dangerous as those driving at 100km/hr. national speed is 80km/hr in a by pass, etc. i CANNOT stand drivers driving in the fast lane at less than 60 km/hr. or driving at the Coast Road at 30km/hr (not joking) all the way. it takes you more than 15 mins behind him if you do not overtake him. (and if you do overtake him you risk having a serious accident).
Over speeding is BAD!! but driving verys lowly in certain roads is BAD just the same.
R.Gauci
Jan 1st 2010, 20:19
With all due respect but I think some of the commentators here have never been or drove abroad especially in countries like England where speed cameras and speed limits of 30miles (48 km) or 40miles (64km) an hour apply in most urban areas which you can compare to Malta being heavily builded up, on roads which are of much better quality then those we have on our island!! I know what I am saying as my profession is a driver abroad!! The proper driving limit at the present state of the Maltese roads shouldn't be more far then 60 km believe me!! I might agree that some cameras where put there as a tax revenue but I will more criticise the ADT operate for leaving the roads in a poor state that is no maintanence at all and lack of investment in proper road signal paintwork, and street furniture plus no investment in flyovers and lights which will reduce traffic especially in rush hour time!! Breathlyser tests should be made not only during these days but all year round and a points license system should be introduced this to reduce the risk of reckless driving and innocent people killed !!
K Camilleri
Jan 1st 2010, 20:11
I think that everyone has forgot to ask a simple question. Were these accidents caused due to lack of disicpline on ourselves, who don't say no to an extra drink with friends and then suffer the consequences of it all ?
Claire Busuttil
Jan 1st 2010, 20:00
Speed kills, but even the fact that everyone, seems to be in a hurry, and tries to overtake, in every kind of road. If you happen to find a slow driver in front of you, you just cannot decide to overtake him, and fullstop. you have to check if there will be any hazards, for you, your passengers, and most of all passangers/drivers of other vechiles!!!!
G. Attard
Jan 1st 2010, 19:46
isn't it time we we have police do random checks for drivers who are under the influence of alchohol? What is it going to take to reduce these incidents - and please refrain from putting the blame on the condition of the roads - it's obvious how these accidents are occuring, due to recklessness, being in a rush, or driving intoxicated.
Jos Vella
Jan 1st 2010, 19:42
@A Abela If you want to drive at 50km/h do so; but please keep on the inner lane. May I remind you that only a few roads on the islands allow driving up to 80km/h which by the way is the maximum speed. I bet that if cars had to be modified not to exceed 50km/h I'll see you walking and not driving. Rather than installing speed cameras, I suggest that police will be stationed on busy roads monitoring the speed electronically and stop those drivers who are caught over speeding. But modifying vehicles is simply a no do; what should drivers who go overland do? Please explain.
A.Borg
Jan 1st 2010, 18:48
Sur Abela, may i ask what car u drive? Perhaps you are a wedding or funeral car cheuffeur? I reach 50kmph on my bicycle.
Joseph Chetcuti
Jan 1st 2010, 17:12
Biex l-accidents jonqsu trid tigi mid-drivers, wiehed irid isuq bil-galbu jew kif tipermetti it-triq, jekk tipreferi issuq bil- 50 itfa fuq in-naha ta gewwa. Il-cameras qedin hemm biex il-gvern jara minfejn ha jaqla aktar flus. L-accidents ta dal-lejl aktar graw minhabba traskuragni, ghajja u jista jkun wkoll minhabba alcohol.
R.Curmi
Jan 1st 2010, 16:57
@A.Abela,
I think you would be more suitabile on a tricycle than driving a car. If you cannot handle a car at least up to the 80khp national speed limit i would suggest to the ADT to make you re-take your driving license. Drivers like you are causing the congestion mayhem on our roads. To go on record and say you drive at 50kph on a dual carraige way is not impressing anyone at all.
A record number of speed cameras were installed this year, some of them adding to more congestion on our roads. The sad thing is that more deads were recorded then previous years.
salvu azzopardi
Jan 1st 2010, 16:38
i agree with d vella. i think a abela is one of those drivers that drive at slow speed on the outer lane. Maybe if all of you out there observe rules and at least use the idicators and not overlap intersections then there will be less accidents
D. Vella
Jan 1st 2010, 16:17
A Abela, do you have any idea what 50k/h is? No offence but by driving that slow you might be causing more accidents by forcing people to overtake you your entire journey.
Joe Anastasi
Jan 1st 2010, 16:05
So Mr. Abela is proud of the fact that he is a road hog. By his own admittance he never drives more than 50kph, even on dual carriageways.
May I ask you a simple question Mr. Abela. How much of your 50kph max driving is done on the outer lane ?
If what you say is true, you, my friend, are just the sort that causes accidents.
Like my dear mother used to say: "I never had an accident in 50 years driving", to which my reply would be "yes dear mother, but how many have you caused?"
A. Borg
Jan 1st 2010, 15:08
Il-Cameras ma l-lights irid jkunu mhux qisu f'Malta kullhadd "Colour Blind".
Il-lights issa kullhadd jaf fejn huma u gbajt nara cowboys jghaddu sajjetta minn mieghi imbaghad izommu brake fejn hemm il-Camera u jergghu johorgu rih kif jaqbzuha!
A Abela
Jan 1st 2010, 13:47
Yes definetly. To all these who write in the Times of Malta blogs about speed cameras, I would like to tell them that if they don't want to pay extra taxes, all they have to do is one simple thing. Do as myself and slow down, I never accelerate more than 50 kms/hr let it be a town street or a dual carriage way. But I bet they want to speed in our streets to show to everybody how busy and in a hurry they are. I would also suggest to the government to put speed limiters to ALL cars not allowing speeds of more than 50. This would save a lot of innocent lives.
C Cassar
Jan 1st 2010, 12:38
It would be interesting to see the statistics published for drink/driving over the festive period. Something like the number breathalysed and the number that failed. The UK publishes these numbers including age ranges every year in January.
So, will we get these please? After all this is public domain information.
Jonathan Callus
Jan 1st 2010, 12:18
I'm Sorry my friend, i dont agree with you (eric camilleri) Cameras do serve a very important purpose, AN ADDED TAX on all of us !!! ;-)
B Sant
Jan 1st 2010, 12:10
if some people can help by driving slowly on the inner side of the lane when they are not in a hurry would be appreciated and perhaps avoid a couple of accidents
Eric Camilleri
Jan 1st 2010, 11:54
I saw the Burmarrad road collision aftermath at around 2am. Terrible scene. I hope all recover and that justice be served for whoever was responsible for causing the accidents.
Insurance covers won't prevent the continuous reoccurance of such serious accidents. Speed is an issue. The vehicle damages we witness on a daily basis are nothing short of overspeeding. The accident spot on the Burmarrad road was not too far away from the speed camera, thus repeat conclusion is that speed cameras serve no purpose !