Update 2: Luqa crash caused by spilt diesel

S.Ciantar

Jul 25th 2010, 10:03

Jien haga wahda nibqa nghid f'kull xoghol hawn tajjeb u l-hazin u ma tistax titfa lil kulhadd f'keffa wahda. Hafna nies jpallaw u jghajjru lil dawn n-nies bla kontroll u bla rispett, kliem li jwagga lil dawn in-nies u lill-familjari taghhom. Taf x'misskhom taghmlu ta tkellmu ma dawn n-nies ha taraw kemm huma cowboys, araw min xhiex jghaddu kuljum u forsi tbiddlu l-fehma taghhkom go postijiet ta divertiment ghalxejn b'xejn jaqilghu tghajjir u kliem hazin u joffenduhom bil-familja, turisti jkunu ghaddejin u jaghmlu vendikazzjoni mat-taxi bi qziez, turisti mghobbijin mil-airport jippruvaw ihallsu nqas billi jaqtghu fee ghal post u jkunu jridu jmorru xmkien iehor u ma jkunux riedu jhallsu kif suppost. Kulhadd jiehu l-ewwel biex jghajjarhom imma safrattant meta darba fis-sena dawn l-istess nies jorganizzaw harga ghat-tfal tal-istut hadt ma jitkellem fuqha l-ebda stazzjon jew gazzetta ma jiehdu l-intrigu biex juru li dawn n-nies ghandhom qalb u jaghmlu karita bhal entitajiet ohrajn. Mela hekk tridu tkunu vera nsara ieqfu ghajjru u araw diffetti taghhkom. Kull min jgholli jdejh kulhadd ghadu xi jxomm ta...!!!!!!

G Falzon

Jul 24th 2010, 20:28

I use the road several time day and night. I saw no diesel on the road BEFORE and AFTER the accident!

Keith D'Amato

Jul 24th 2010, 18:44

There are still irresponsable people out there!! imagine this happened to a person on a motorbike.

j grech

Jul 24th 2010, 11:58

fit all public transport vehicles with speed restrictors,
yes advanced driving licences do help,
go back and learn how to go into the spin when you hit diesal or black ice and not try to steer out of it, read your car manuals more and take note of tyre pressure in hot weather and tyre pressure for wet or ice road conditions there is a difference, yes we have accidents and road traffic violations in the UK but most of our taxi drivers are of pakistani origin and now we have the polish driver who thinks he can create the third lane just like the maltese do and we also have the boy racer just like malta, but we have enforcement unlike malta,and give way with respect to other drivers unlike malta,the uninsured drivers bureau that fully compensates should you encounter an accident with an uninsured driver unlike malta, insurance companys that compensates you and then fights it out between themselves and not let you do all the running around unlike malta, from another whinging brit

Paul Selis

Jul 24th 2010, 08:47

Suggestion: almost all cars nowadays come, or could could come at little extra cost, equipped with a gps-navsat which could be registered to the vehicle. The gps measures the speed of the vehicle and via the satellite system it can easily transmit the speed driven to the police. Fines can be sent automatically in this way. No need for expensive speed cameras which' positions are known and therefore have hardly any effect anymore.

Peter Paul Bonnici

Jul 23rd 2010, 16:25

Several comments re excessive speed of taxi-drivers have been noted in this coloumn. IT'S ABOUT HIGH TIME THAT WARDENS NEED TO BE POSTED ALONG THE ROUTE FROM MARSA TO MALTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND BOOK OFFENDERS TO SAVE ON HUMAN LIVES. Wardens are there primarily to educate drivers and ultimately to save innocent human lives. COME ON WARDENS, SHOW US YOU'VE GOT GUTS !!!

D Agius

Jul 23rd 2010, 13:02

Sorry to say this but its time that TAXI DRIVERS LEARN TO DRIVE PROPERLY! just yesterday i was going to luqa up the GariBaldi Road, to taxis after each other driving like crazy with clients in the cars passed near me going in front of me with SPEED and they nearly hit me! THEY MUST LEARN and STOP THIS NONSENCE!!!

herbert borg

Jul 23rd 2010, 11:19

A case in point is this morning i saw a motorcylist skid and fall down this morning when going around the roundabout dounhill from it-telgha ta alla w ommu. The motorcycle was going really slow around the round about and still ke skid on the water that was left by the water bowser. He could thank God that he wasn't run over by the car after him!

J. Grima

Jul 23rd 2010, 09:17

I had the same experience last december while going down the road from mellieha leading to xemxija. There was spilt diesel all along the road and the car spun while hitting the wall on either side of the road. You practically have no control of your car in such a situation. Due to its extensive damage the car was declared as written off by the surveyor and I had to buy another car. Unfortunately there are still irresponsible people in this country who with some decent civil responsibility can avoid certain accidents, which might be fatal, from happening. Fortunately enough, thanks God, I came out of the car without a bruise apart from a big shock. And I was lucky not to find anyone coming down behind me or up from the opposite direction at the time of the accident, cause it would have been another story.

mariopandolfino

Jul 23rd 2010, 08:34

It-tixrid ta diesel ,ilma mil water bowsers ,ilma mit-tisqija ta roundebouts u tixrid ta ramel u zrar min trakkijiet kollha huma potenzjal ghal incidenti serji .Kulhadt jrid jaghmel il parti tieghu biex dawn in-nuqasijiet serji u li jistghaw jikkagunaw incidenti fatali jaraw li ma jsirux.

Chris Grima

Jul 23rd 2010, 06:25

So there were no other incidents except for the Taxis on the diesel. Fishy or what? And who spills diesel at 12.30am? That's half-past midnight right?

Yesterday (Thursday) I happened to be first at Sliema... where the taxis were doing a 'kerb-side crawl' , that is, driving at 5km per hour, in the hope of picking up a fare, and on the way to airport, I was twice overtaken by white rockets!!! A VW Passat and a Skoda Octavia, doing a zillion miles an hour.

One was in the tunnel(!!!!!) going to Marsa, and the other up the hill behind the Addolorata cemetery (trying to outdo an aging Mercedes Taxi, to get at the waiting line first). TAT-TWERWIR!!!!

To all those who insert comments here...at 40km/h you still wouldn't have these cars (with ABS and whatnot) losing batteries and bonnets. Think about it....

It's a fact that excessive speed kills.... and I truly honestly believe Motor-Bikers (especially those with number plates BENT on purpose) , Taxi & Bus drivers (who never use their lane!) are the worst offenders.

That is a fact attested to by the majority of the Maltese...

Malcolm Felix

Jul 23rd 2010, 02:37

Dear Antoine Spiteri,
The guys told you CORRECTLY whats on theory, if you'll be doing 150 km/hr and thats your cruising speed, you should still pull to the inner lane, someone might be coming at 170 and wants to over take you. Now what is best, is to be practical. I know Malta has short (sqaqien) cause they are in no states to be called roads, so this does not apply, so lets try (i repeat lets try be civilzed) to use some common sense here.

TAXI's are an accident waiting to happen. I said this already, and say it again, shame on authorites who close their eyes, on them, bus drivers etc. Shame! Shame! Shame!

A. Camilleri

Jul 22nd 2010, 21:47

I happen to live along the Luqa bypass and Taxis driven at high speeds seem to be the order of the day along this road. Many times I have also assisted to 2 taxis chasing each other in an irresponsible excessive speed. I tend to believe that this accident must have been another chase... with a bitter ending. I beg the authorities to take note....

robert micallef

Jul 22nd 2010, 20:17

while the accidents happen the warden in zebbug was busy giving tickets to people who were shopping and parked correctly but had left the car with the windows open.
apparently its against the law to leave your car unlocked.

Aldo Busuttil (not the Singer)

Jul 22nd 2010, 18:53

I the accident happened at a decent speed, there would not have been all that damage. That sort of damage is one when speed is well over the speed limit.... (hallihom forsi jitghallmu jsuqu sewwa... bil-mod bhal drivers normali)... 99% id-diesel jista jkun hareg mill-istess karozzi mal-habta....

C.Scerri

Jul 22nd 2010, 18:48

Might be true, but the way taxi drivers speed around might also be a cause. Yesterday I had one of these white taxis juts inches away from my rear bumper under the Sta Venera tunnels, trying to overtake when on the outside lane there was another car and trying to make me go faster (I was doing 60Kmph). Once there was a minimal space between the cars, he overtook (not permitted under the tunnel), sped off at around 100km/hr, slowed suddenly at the exit and continued at around 100km/hr

G. Borg

Jul 22nd 2010, 16:52

Malta s roads are not safe.....punto e basta

J. Debono

Jul 22nd 2010, 16:27

People are claiming that no one should stay in the outer lane unless they are overtaking.

Though in most dual carriage ways, I would agree with these persons fully, I see that the situation in Malta is a bit different.

Most Maltese dual carriageways are usually less than a kilometre long, and always finish in a roundabout.
Speaking for myself, if I am going left, I stay on the inner lane, whilst if I am going to turn right I stay on the outer lane, this to avoid crisscrossing and increasing the chance of an accident.

CGrech

Jul 22nd 2010, 16:06

The crash was so bad that the diesel spill could have resulted from it, in fact if it were there before, how come were there no other accidents? It is a busy road even at night... My husband was one of 4 drivers (3 on bikes, 1 quad bike), all coming from Tarxien direction towards Luqa, who were lucky not to have driven towards the roundabout before the taxis got there. We would be reading of fatalities otherwise. So no excuses, if the diesel spill was there before, the taxi drivers are just lucky that they have someone else to blame, which seems to be most people's mentality. Never mind learning a lesson.

Antoine Spiteri

Jul 22nd 2010, 15:58

Dear Kevin Bonnici

I try to stay driving at 70Km/h but can you try it instead of me driving at that speed in the inner lane… I think you would end up or driving on other cars or I don’t know....im trying to imagine. If we had to use to outer lane only to overtake than we would end up with a big que and driving with 5km/h and leaving the outerlane empty

J Galea

Jul 22nd 2010, 15:24

A statement by the Ministry responsible for Transport? Malta's motor madness continues...,,,

Ray Mangion

Jul 22nd 2010, 15:00

I hope that those who were hurt will be ok. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Despite the spilt diesel however, it makes one wonder what speed the taxi drivers were doing. All over Malta and especially near the airport and long stretches of roads, these taxi drivers are a manace and a danger to the rest. They bully anyone in their path, drive too close behind the vehicles in front of them and overtake very dangerously. Maybe that`s what needs to be checked out too. Heavy goods vehicles, buses, mini buses and taxi drivers think they have a law on to themselves and in the meantime, because of their behaviour on the road, others get hurt and possible lose their lives. In a nutshell, Malta Transport, the police should be shaken up and do their jobs properly in every aspect of their responsibility for road safety.

Pule' Carmel

Jul 22nd 2010, 14:50

To all motorcyclists!!!!! Never be afraid to drive in the rain. but be extremely careful and slow down and lower your feet WHEN YOU SEE A PATCH OF DIESEL OR OIL ON THE GROUND, OR A MIXTURE OF OIL AND RAINWATER detected by the colourings and SMALL LOSE dry GRAVEL OR SAND THAT WIND ACCUMULATES IN SOME PATCHES, NEAR CORNERS, ROUNDABOUTS . The the oil lubricates the tyres while the dry sand and gravel act like ball bearings under your tires. Do not ask questions just slow down to walking pace, for your own good.

JOHN O SCERRI

Jul 22nd 2010, 14:39

There are traffic lights close to where this incident happened .
I assume the spilt diesel was caused by a vehicle waiting for the traffic lights to change to green .

As for the two taxis , even driving at 20km per hour one can lose control in that road and over diesel .
I pass from here every day. One would think twice or thrice before overtaking .

The road is very uneven and curving . Overtaknig cars a very close to each other when doing so.

A slight manouver to the right could send the overtaking car off course or into the center strip in normal conditions let alone with diesel under the tyres.

S.Azzopardi

Jul 22nd 2010, 14:38

@ E.Muscat, so if a few youngsters drive carelessly I as a biker should hate all car drivers ?????

Robert Calafato

Jul 22nd 2010, 14:14

You have no chance of controlling any car/bike at even moderate speeds especially on a Maltese road covered with Diesel. Not even if you were Shumi himself! You have a better chance on ice!
And that 126 could not have been going very fast to only have sustained that sort of damage.

Paul Caruana

Jul 22nd 2010, 13:47

Well, sooner or later, it had to happen....how many times do you see taxi drivers, racing against each other on the main road going to the airport? Hopefully, no one was seriously injured.

The Marsa - Airport route (going towards the airport, after the traffic lights) is definately one area where speed cameras should be installed ASAP.

A Zammit

Jul 22nd 2010, 13:20

I use this road more than once a day during daylight and night. The worst is during night, when the taxis with tinted glass switch on the bright and fog lamps to force you out of their way.

carmel callus

Jul 22nd 2010, 13:12

It would be interesting if we were to be told how many taxi drivers are booked for overspeeding everyday by that traffic policeman waits for hours alsong Vjal l-Ajruport corner with Triq il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa to book drivers who, ignorantly, cross a 10-metre long white line on the same carriageway!

AAzzopardi

Jul 22nd 2010, 13:07

@ S. Ciantar

you might be right in terms of law allowing taxi drivers not to wear when they don't have clients at the back. However I invite you to 15 minutes at the entrance of MIA, stop every incoming taxi without passengers and count how many of them won't be wearing seatbelts, anzi easier to count those not wearing it!

my argument about the seatbelts was not directly pointed at the drivers themselves, but at the authourities for allowing the taxi drivers do what they want. i.e. me driving without seatbelt get a fine, whilst a taxi driver can drive without (even if he's without people).

For me taxi drivers can handle the steering wheel with their legs for all I care,
but
A) they have to abide to law and respect other drivers like everyone else is bound to do and

B) the law is there for everyone and that includes taxi drivers, anzi especially taxi drivers.

Joseph E Briffa

Jul 22nd 2010, 12:56

Were the taxi drivers overspeeding to try to get to the airport first for their next trip? . If they were driving at a normal speed of 60 kph they would probably have noticed the diesel on the ground and would have had the time to slow down.

Philip Micallef

Jul 22nd 2010, 12:53

Only one good reason for all these traffic accidents: Bad Traffic Mangement. So much for our so called Traffice Experts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stephen Mangion

Jul 22nd 2010, 12:44

Regarding this incident I must say I use the road everyday and the first observation on this one is that I'm not surpirsed at all its 2 bad drivers. This roads is a main artery and heavily used everyday. Despite little or no overtaking CAB DRIVERS fly by at 180Km/h zigzagging along cars driving after a long day at work, many times putting them in a difficult position to give way for them to overtake. My point is if you wanna see La creme de la creme of bad CAB DRIVING go to this road (in front of Miller Distributors). Disgusting!! People dont give way if you think you'll be putting your life in danger. Drive responsibility. As for Cab drivers God will sort them out....

Steve Sant

Jul 22nd 2010, 12:42

On another note, I suddenly realised, or maybe I should say I knew but didn't occur to me, why so many accidents. It is a combination of 3 things: 1. The new narrow roads being constructed. 2. Slow drivers 3. Risk takers. 4. Diesel
When you have a road such as the Burmarrad, and the Salina coast road, one very slow driver could easily create a traffic of a mile long. Unable to overtake, some anxious and heavy footed drivers put their foot down hoping to overtake the long queue. If on the other hand, and especially with so many blind corners, another car on the opposite side travelling at normal speed comes face to face, with nowhere to go. Then the inevitable happens. I've seen it happen to a car in front of me. This lone 10mph driver held up more than 40 plus cars from Pembroke all the way to the Salina Hotel, when an anxious driver decided to overtake after twenty minutes at 15 mph, came face to face with another car. So why on earth are we contructing single lane roads, when many could easily accomodate 4 cars?.

Joe Fenech

Jul 22nd 2010, 12:21

As usual...

AAzzopardi

Jul 22nd 2010, 12:18

To all those complaining about the way taxi drivers drive:

please note that in this case, you could go at 20km/h and still have the spinning effect on spilt diesel.

but still...To all those complaining about the way taxi drivers drive and authorities do nothing:

I still recall Summer of a couple of years ago, when the taxis brought Malta to a standstill.

taxis and minibus parked every where to block the streets.

People protesting infront of OPM!

I can imagine what the police would do to me, if I go and bang on the door of OPM like they did at that time..... nothing happened. How many of them don't wear seatbelts? each one of them.

One thing is for sure....... police and wardens are afraid to book these cowboys, and let's face it the cowboys are not the minority but the majority.

@ josephine dimech: I too have a family and they too are a risk when we have such driving in our streets, so no one should be above the law!!!!

w.scicluna

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:49

E. Muscat isom idejquk tal muturi. ur ghaddi int bil karozza minn fuq d-diesel u ara jekk tispiccax tiskiddja inti ukoll. Flok tid li almenu hadd ma miet, wehlu tal muturi ma rasek.

Josephine Dimech

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:26

These are not the first accident that happened caused by spilt diesel. Heavey loaders fill-up (sa ruh ommhom) and cause accidents because of overflow.
With all do respect according to the article above not only Taxis had accidents at the same area. So please be careful how to use your words towords Taxi Drivers. They are human beings and work hard to earn their living. They have families and it hurts to read such comments.

E.Muscat

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:25

Probabilment dak li tefa d-diesel dejjquh li dawk it-taxis u muturi jigru qishom imgienen:hemm bzonn cameras ghax issa xi ftit msiemer jonqos:bil-lejl jinstemaw xi s-siegha ta filghodu diversi muturi itellqu fuq dik it-triq!U ghaliex tat-taxis juzaw il-bus-lanes qishom taghhom?

Antoine Spiteri

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:23

I definetly agree with you. Last week i was driving at a 70 km/h hence not driving slow but i was still over took. I ended up in the middle between a car and another white car which happened to be a taxi. I had to swerve on the other car to let him pass. Can you imagine 3 cars in 2 lane!!!! These white taxis drivers need some education and sent to ADT training and for an exam every 6 months.

Alex Debono

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:16

@ E Gatt...

You Forget to mention one think.... that if you still observe the rules as you mentioned.. still there is a big chance of getting an accident...especially with the state of the streets... that gonzi pn.. has left us to live in.... . I lived in Germany for 5 years and tehir streets are far from better than ours... The goverment should invest in safer roads... and net install cameras to get more taxes from his people...

A.MUSCAT

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:13

@ Mr.Daniel Biggs.
Have you ever been to PORTUGAL ?

Mark DeGiorgio

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:13

@everyone whining!
I dont think they were going that fast...if they were that fiat 126 (which is one of the worst cars to be in an accident in) would have been in far worst shape. The driver in that thing wouldnt have come out with just some injuries! If you hit spilled diesel at any speed, you will most probably loose control and spin!!

S.Agius

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:13

It's called Heat Rage - People who don't have ac's in their cars want to arrive at their destination in 5 mins to avoid the heat even if it means causing harm to other drivers. Bummard is always busy in the summer months and drivers should realize that it takes longer to travel this road. By overtaking and speeding is only causing danger to other people. If you don't want to wait in the line up in Bummard think twice before you spend your summers in Buggiba or Qawra! Police and Wardens - Where are you during the busy summer months?

Christian sant Fournier

Jul 22nd 2010, 11:11

Its amazing how most comments below have been about the driving rather than the fact that diesel was spilled on the road - Complete ignorance.
As i motorbike rider i know what a lethal cocktail diesel together with roads with virtually no grip can be. I once ended up sliding on my backside after riding over what i thought was water. This wet patch was approached with great caution, I was not doing more than 20 mph, kept the bike as straight and upright as i possibly could and did not touch the brakes or gas; to no avail, the bike was virtually flung from beneath me, i could hardly walk on this stuff.

Daniel Biggs

Jul 22nd 2010, 10:45

Welcome to the best drivng system in the world folks, but make sure you have a good medical insurance and a well covered for funeral expenses, as the maltese simply are one of the worst drivers i have ever come across. a Whinging Britain (with an advnced driving licence)

Gordon Sammut

Jul 22nd 2010, 10:23

Despite several accidents and blogs police presence on the roads remains the same - close to none! Burmarrad has a speed camera but accidents still take place because drivers know where the camera is. Overtaking is very common too here. So where are the police and the wardens?? Same for Luqa...taxi drivers speed not just in Luqa but everywhere. The whole transport system is weird...buses and taxis. Poor tourists who have to use them.

Mario Brincat

Jul 22nd 2010, 10:20

Both the cars where taxis. Although I agree with most of what was said about taxis racing each other to the airport in order to gain advantage over one another and make more trips, last night's accident was caused by someone who spilled diesel just before the accident scene.

E Gatt

Jul 22nd 2010, 10:07

I think most of these accidents can be avoided if people observe a few basic common sense rules.

• Don’t drive too close to pedestrians or other cars – they may be closer than you think.
• Leave 5 minutes earlier – you will feel less of an urge to rush.
• Concentrate on what’s ahead of you.
• Observe road signs and speed limits.
• Passengers – don’t distract the driver (wait till the car stops before you get into a discussion/argument with the driver).
• Don’t drink and drive.
• If you’re tired, don’t drive.
• Stop for a coffee if this wakes you up.
• Using you mobile when driving is illegal – police/local wardens book more people please.

Charles Micallef

Jul 22nd 2010, 09:23

The carnage continues on a daily basis, when all we need is some road discipline and the enforcements of the traffic laws.....but does anybody cares out there ? ? ? ? ?

Henry freestones

Jul 22nd 2010, 08:50

WOW...what a way to kick start the morning...I drove pass the scene at burmarrad this morning and could only wonder how people take so much risk by overtaking,facing on coming vehichles, causing other road users unwarranted misfortune.....

J. Debono

Jul 22nd 2010, 08:27

Council of Europe str. Luqa is wrongly named.

It should be called,

Last sprint of taxi Grand Prix str.

Franco Farrugia

Jul 22nd 2010, 08:25

Regarding the second accident - taxi ... Council of Europe. This road is NOTORIOUS for speeding white taxis and something must be done about it. I frequently use this road and at all times of the day, particularly white taxis speed up the road and breakneck speed, in all probability in order to arrive quickly back at MIA for their next 'taghbija'! And there are times when more than one taxi, two, three even four, race against each other to the detriment of innocent drivers using this stretch. The Police should investigate.