False alarm as car plunges down cliff

Galea. L

Jan 26th 2010, 11:38

Franco Farrugia
What if the car suddenly loses its brakes/steering?
This also applies to many areas where one can see no barriers to prevent accidents. Remember the cases at Xatt ir-Risq where no barriers were put up and that there had to be more than one case before the authorities took the necessary measures? The families were compensated although it will not bring their loved ones back, but it was also the taxpayers who had to make good for the compensation and not those who not only ignored the usual precautions, but continued to do so even after the first accident.

Franco Farrugia

Jan 26th 2010, 06:33

@ Galea L: '... if a car accidentaly drop down'. Excuse me?????????? How can a car 'accidentally drop down'?????? Have you bee to the area in question? It is far off the road so a car cannot just drop down unless it were manouvred in such a position as to start taking the plunge! Let's get real!

Galea. L

Jan 25th 2010, 12:36

Jesmond Micallef, John Falzon
You are both right. Why should CPD personnel risk their lives unnecessarily?
I am sure that there are many model aircraft helicopters enthusiasts who I have no doubt will be ready to teach the CPD personnel how to operate a remote controlled helicopter.
This also exposes the authorities to damages should a vehicle accidentally drop down.
This is apart from other considerations and the danger to someone who may have been down there and who may have been killed by those who threw the car.

John Falzon

Jan 25th 2010, 11:45

Just a suggestion. Is it not possible for the Civil rescue department to have a small radio controlled helicopter equipped with a small camera that can be sent down to inaccessible areas (when the wind permits it) to get a quick overview of the situation ? In this way, there would be no need to send anyone down unnecessarily, risking his life in the process.

Perhaps the USA or Italy can provide some support with this - I am sure they have some pretty sophisticated radio controlled equipment of this type. Even an obsolete model would suffice.

Jesmond Micallef

Jan 25th 2010, 11:18

Maybe one here could build a stone wall. If cars can be thrown off a cliff here, it seems to me that the road and the edge of the cliff are not safely segregated. The professional people of the Civil Protection Department need not expose themselves to extra dangers.