Fewer deaths on Maltese roads but more safety is a must

G Debono

Jul 7th 2011, 18:44

RE “………..relief for those living on the island is………………….one of the lowest rate of road fatalities among member states – 36 per million …………. EU last year stood at 66 deaths per million and, despite their vast road network……”

What utter rubbish !

This is deaths per million and NOT deaths per Km travelled !

What the reporter omits is this

1) We have no motorways where accidents result in more fatalities.

2) We travel shorter distances. (I have sometimes done 500 or even 1000 km in one day) Picking up my son from university in Hull was a 440 MILE roud trip!)

3) We have lower speeds because we do not have long straight roads.

4) And, most important, we have permanent favourable conditions - no smow, no deadly frost, no fog, no dark winter days as in scandinavia

With our piddly little distances we should be way below 36 per million. If we took deaths per Km travelled it would be horrendous compared to the EU
……
GEEZ - now let me go and bang my head agaist the wall…

J Galea

Jul 7th 2011, 16:48

I am a biker too, and I think no one observe roads better than bikers. The main problem in my opinion is that Maltese roads are build to kill you, instead of saving your life.

Albert Bezzina

Jul 7th 2011, 15:28

The numbers in Malta are low and based on a small population so that there is substantial variation between one year and the next not to mention the low vehicle miles traveled. The year proceeding the good news year of 2010 with 36 fatalities per million (15 fatalities), 2009 - the year speed cameras peppered Maltese roads - there were 21 fatalities or 50 per million population. Compared with 2001 that is deterioration! Overall, and on average, road fatalities in Malta are low and the main cause is that most roads are congested which may increase accidents but reduce severity of injuries. The expectation to reduce fatalities by half by 2020 is unrealistic as the rate is already low. However, the three most important causes of driver related causes of fatalities is not addressed; diving under the influence of alcohol, drugs and plain aggressive Neanderthal behaviour on the road. These can only be addressed with police patrols on the roads armed with breathalyzers and drug detection kits plus the legislative backing to squash excuses and legal technicalities.

Ramon Casha

Jul 7th 2011, 13:58

Maybe we can talk the political parties to make road quality an item in their next electoral manifestos too.

Here at least is one thing we don't need a referendum on.

Mr Daniel Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 12:49

My comment might appear a bit controversial but i think that we Maltese motorists are mainly to blame for the crap roads we get. If you take other EU countries as an example you will find that road users are well organised. They have organisations representing them as consumer groups. But in other EU countries, people are willing to pay a yearly membership to support such organistions. It no joke to hire lawyers and specialists to draw reports and nobody in Malta can take this private initiative. So definately yes we are to blame for our roads. And the situation will remain the same until a proper organisation is created in order to improve policies and methods used to construct our road network. Imagine Authorities and users working hand in hand to improve things - Unfortunately the current situation resembles more of a fascist way of doing things.

Mr Kevin Agius

Jul 7th 2011, 12:23

As a seasoned biker who uses his bike everyday to commute i fully support Mr Ferriggi's comments.

What i would also suggest is restrictions on young new car drivers as to what level of car they can drive. New young bikers are restricted to a 33bhp 'learner' bike of not more than 250cc till they reach 25yrs of age. Yet new car drivers can go and drive any car they want. We have seen quite a number of accidents involving youngsters in high powered cars, the most recent one involving a 21 yr old in an S-Type a car which Wikipedia quotes as having over 207bhp.

Why is there this discrimination between Maltese motorists ? Are motorists more 'mature' than 'bikers' ? Statistics prove otherwise !

Mr R ferriggi

Jul 7th 2011, 10:53

i am a biker and a car driver, so 'i think' i know the roads pretty well.

i also bike alot overland.

i can easily say that the roads are the main cuplit of accidents and deaths here.

there is no beating around the bush that excessive speed increases the risk of death, but from my experience,,,,, frustration on the road is also another form of killer.

finally,,,, the police NEED to be more active with regards to slow drivers, drivers driving slow in the fast lane etc,.

my appeal is for the road network to continue to be aggresively upgraded. the sooner the better.

Charles Sammut

Jul 7th 2011, 10:36

What a load of hogwash. You can prove anything with statistics. How about bragging that Comino is the safest place on Earth as far as driving is concerned.

If we want to half the number of road fatalities, we should start by providing decent roads, with smooth surface that provides proper traction. A lot of accidents are caused by loss of control due to the poor road surface. Shock absorbers and suspension components are shot in a couple of years from new, while tyres and rims can be destroyed instantly by accidentally driving through a pothole.

Meanwhile the road 'building' contractors and whoever approves their shoddy work, laugh all the way to the bank.

Daniel Walker

Jul 7th 2011, 10:30

A possible solution could put up check points and stop drunk driving.

Mr wayne scicluna

Jul 7th 2011, 09:42

Quote...Fewer deaths on Maltese roads but more safety is a must. Just one question----what roads???? The 2 or 3 semi decent ones or the rest of the garbage they actually call ''roads''?

Alex Cutajar

Jul 7th 2011, 09:19

Sfortunatament hawn Malta, flok toqghod attent kif issuq int, trif toqghod attent kif isuq haddiehor!

Mr Michael Camileri

Jul 7th 2011, 08:51

I ride a bike to work, and the amount of idiotice driving I see is phenomenal. To be honset, some bikers are not that great either.

We need to change the attitudes, and the police have alot to do with this. They are either busy with other cases or they dont care about road safety - given I have seen police driving without seatbelts and other cases talking on a mobile.


As a biker we must look both sides, because the amount of times I have found a car sneaking in 'undertaking' is shocking. and when I alarm them via hand gestures, they become irrate and treat me for apparently being in the wrong.

This is a plea to drivers out there...

"I pay my road tax, the section width of road I am riding is my space unless you need to 'overtake' safely. Because the roads are of poor quality, I WILL use all of the section of road for corners to reduce the angle. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER MY SPACE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE INSIDE!!"

Mr S Vella

Jul 7th 2011, 08:50

The condition of our roads is still disastrous, not just those which are visible in a poor state but even those which are very slippery due to no grip in tarmac, you see them shine and can predict that you can skid very easily. One of the main roads that is in a disastrous state is the one from the roundabout opposite university going down towards the Labour Party club in Msida.....another is the ring road around Valletta going down by Excellsior Hotel and much much more!!

Ms Lina CARUANA

Jul 7th 2011, 08:20

Road regulations need to be revised up to modern needs. Unfortunately the criteria that when you have a license you can use the road at your leisure causing much inconvenience to others is outdated. Bullies can even use it to drive out people of their own homes and property and steal land by encroaching . No, laws are not meant to damage ,cause harm, or use subversive readings of the law to gain for an unlawful purpose. Even road regulations need updating.