Attard councillor proposes 30kph residential roads
Attard residents are complaining about overspeeding in their town. Photo: Jason Borg
A proposal to be discussed by the Attard council seeks to impose a lower speed limit in the locality ’s residential roads.
Alternattiva Demokratika councillor Ralph Cassar this week submitted a motion calling for the maximum speed limit in all the locality ’s residential roads to be reduced to 30 kilometres per hour from the national limit of 40kph.
No date has yet been set for the motion to be discussed, but its proponent insists it is intended to promote greater road safety for pedestrians. “I have received a number of complaints on over-speeding from residents, and many feel uncomfortable allowing their children to walk alone on pavements or using their bicycles to travel around the locality,” Mr Cassar said.
Last month the European Parliament adopted the Koch report on road safety, which suggested more incentives to encourage people to walk, cycle and make use of public transport.
Reducing speed limits in built-up areas is one of the proposals in the report and is seen as a significant measure in lowering the number of fatal or near-fatal accidents. The report does not have any legislative bearing.
In his motion Mr Cassar says the council’s initiative to install a number of bicycle racks in the locality was intended to encourage people to cycle, but many felt “uncomfortable” doing so because of traffic.
Quoting EU statistics, the motion says that while only five per cent of people hit by a car travelling at 32kph die, the number of fatalities shoots up to 45 per cent when the car is travelling at 48kph.
Mr Cassar said there was a direct link between high speeds and increased fatalities, which prompted him to make the proposal. “All residential roads under the council ’s jurisdiction should have a speed limit of 30kph but the discussion eventually should lead to having a number of roads designated as mixed use where pedestrians and cars can intermingle safely,” he said. The motion called on Transport Malta to implement the council’s decision within one month of it being approved.
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Carmel Ellul
Nov 21st 2011, 18:50
Attard has become one of Malta's roundabouts, with some internal roads becoming shortcuts.
If Attard council intends to enter into the specialist field of traffic management then so be it , but then it has to be done professionally and not on the whims of politicians.
H'Attard needs a new interconnection from Zebbug Road to Valletta Road through a bridge between the section between Allwoods and Steel and the Traffic Light junction near the Corinthia.
This will deviate all the traffic coming down from Zebbug towards Valletta from around AFS.
Close the connection infront of AFS to all traffic between 7.00am and 7.00pm.
This will relieve the congestion from the Hal Warda street into Valletta.
How the Council will control the speed limit breakers is anybody's guess.
How to keep the dangerous drivers , of the type that almost killed the two girl's in H'Attard is also anybody's seeing that the court keeps giving him the freedom of our roads.
Alfred Fenech
Nov 22nd 2011, 08:55
Does anyone relises that slow moving cars get mechanically damaged. Plus full of carbon, which is definately good for the SOUL.... Councils and wardens ruin the days of driving humble and cauciously.
c Micallef
Oct 16th 2011, 14:21
why dont we abolish cars from this country? With the rate we are reducing speed limits, might as well walk, or catch Arriva for that matter. Any slower than this we will start moving backwards.
G G Debono
Oct 16th 2011, 15:42
c Micallef
RE ". abolish cars…………With the rate we are reducing speed limits, might as well walk. "
This is really nonsensical. Such arguments are getting silly. You exaggerate , anyway - - -
Reducing speed in residential areas to prevent accidents and save lives will make little difference to travelling time: for journeys in the same locality - a speed limit makes make little difference; generally a trip from A to B in many built-up, congested areas is anyway made slower than 20 (twenty) kph ! Having a speed limit just means that mad acceleration to ridiculous and dangerous speeds to the next traffic congested spot - will not be allowed in residential areas . –possibly saving lives.
We are talking about preventing probably about 4 - 5 lives per year on our roads.
On the other hand; ---- Please note, Mr Micallef, - - - if you want to go, say, to Mgarr, nobody is asking you to drive slowly till you reach Victoria in Gozo. - - - - -
Now, Is this so difficult to understand??? - - - So what’s all the fuss about ?
Suzanne Debattista
Oct 15th 2011, 18:09
Its better you see about the Arriva bus No 202 that passes in Triq Hal Warda while the road is closed from 2.15pm till 2.45 pm as kids finish from school !!!!
Ralph Cassar
Oct 15th 2011, 18:34
Public transport routes cannot just be closed off - it is a public service, frankly it is parents' cars clogging roads and parking all over the place which creates the most problems. Obviously if the bus driver (in that half an hour only one bus will pass through) is speeding that's another thing altogether. Wise use of road space means that mixed use IS possible.
G G Debono
Oct 15th 2011, 17:17
To …………………..Bertrand Malley (Today, 14:42)
RE …. purely illogical………. to avoid an accidental ………….you want to increase everyone's asthma and other breathing problems, heart disease and cancer rates………… exuding more exhaust.
Look Mr Malley
As to this nonsense about asthma etc. It is anyway impossible – much of the time - to drive at even 20 kph in most of our towns, let alone 30 kph. The driving style consists mostly of mad acceleration to ridiculous speeds and hard braking at the next traffic congested spot. - this is far more polluting. The question of energy efficient driving/pollution doesn’t come in here because we are talking about piddly distances and not of longer journeys on open roads where speed is no problem. It is anyway more economical to drive slowly at an even speed than rapid stops and heavy-footed acceleration . In any case attitudes for making streets pedestrian friendly are also improving in the UK in lines with UK Department for Transport guidelines which now recommend that “Streets should be designed as social places, not just traffic spaces”. - this also means trying to have fewer cars in streets.
AND – if you are so worried about “increasing everyone's asthma and other breathing problems, heart disease and cancer rates by having cars go slower, being less efficient and exuding more exhaust” (was this cribbed out of my report?) - then you should do exactly as I do: I am not hypocritical – I live by the principles I preach – I walk and ride a bicycle as and do not use my car as much as possible .(if yopu don't believe me see http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080628/local/well-meaning-cyclist-gets-into-trouble.214422
AND – don’t you dare tell me (or anybody else) that I should “first and foremost apply my own logic to myself “ (because that is exactly what I do).
Neither should you have the arrogance to tell people you don’t know that they “ should grow up" …. Such insults and assumptions are just verbal violence and not conter-arguments. – OK ?
Mr Malley, my statements are neither unwarranted nor sweeping. They are based on (1) my experience of living for decades in Mainland Europe and (2) on my knowledge of epidemiology as a doctor and 25 years as a research scientist which taught me to be sure about what I say - and (3) on scientific evidence with which I keep up to date. Furthermore, from my personal experience of driving and cycling in different countries, I would say that UK driving behavior was by far more threatening to pedestrians and (especially) cyclists, until the late 90s . The sad thing is that Malta may have inherited these bad habits and they are still there. The arrogant attitude you are exhibiting resembles exactly that of the UK motorist of decades ago. .
People anyway use their car too much in Malta - - as on Sundays when there is more pollution than on week days. In countries with a healthier attitude one sees lots of people out walking and (dare I say it ??) cycling.
As to your “irresponsible pedestrians crossing roads without looking properly” - this is bigoted rubbish – I walk a lot and see much more than others see from behind their steering wheel – it is almost invariably the case that a pedestrian misjudges the excess speed of an oncoming car and has to run across for his life. Generally the nice guys behind the wheel don’t even slow down , worse still, they hoot furiously. I have even seen drivers accelerate to shoo the pedestrian out of the way.
Unfortunately, we are a car-crazed nation and we have to get out of the motoring mind-set that anybody else on the road is subhuman. Unfortunately, we have remained a car-crazed nation and such attitudes are antiquated and deeply embedded.
Sorry Mr Malley – it is utterly depressing to hear such arrogant car-obsessed nonsense. I drive a car and I respect other road users.
A residential road belongs to everybody - not just motorists.
Bertrand Malley
Oct 16th 2011, 02:20
Dear Mr. Debono,
Your arguments are the classic non sequitur. You present a hodge podge of statements to try to boost your credibility because you know full well that on their own your statements do not stand.
If it is impossible to even drive at 20 km\h, for instance, then reducing the speed limit to 30 km\h will have absolutely no impact and you are just kicking up a storm in a teacup. Assuming, that you do not really believe your initial statement, we can go on to bust your second myth.
To drive at 30 km\h most cars would have to be on third gear and third gear means more engine breaking and more accelerator pressing to travel the same distance. The result is therefore more pollution, which is exactly what has happened wherever so-called traffic calming measures have been introduced that invariably end up giving rise to higher incidences of rat racing from one sleeping police to the next.
If you have the time to walk and cycle, then I wish you all the best in your mundane hobbies. I also have to admit to be envious of you as you manage to find the time to do so. Perhaps research science after all pays very well and affords its practitioners a lot of free time. I, however, for one, find this impossible to do. To keep up with a modest home loan for a small apartment and the upkeep of a family I have to juggle the responsibilities of my family and my children, my full time job and my part time job that just about allows me to make it till the next pay cheque.
Walking or cycling would mean between an hour and three hours less per day, and I scarcely have a minute to spare - even to read the news on tjis online newspaper. So yes, before asking other people to grow up you should grow up yourself. Just because you are comfortable and can afford the envious luxury of walking or cycling does not mean that others can.
The utterly depressing thing is to hear the arrogant car-elimination retort nonsense. Rights of way are pretty clear in defining that a residential road belongs to the motorists. If you want to take your road over because you want to play football, by all means try your best to do so ... but I will bethe first one to be there to try my best to stop you.
G G Debono
Oct 16th 2011, 14:38
TO Bertrand Malley – (Today, 02:20)
“Your arguments are the classic non sequitur.” “You present a hodge podge of statements”
BUT………….I was responding to YOUR arguments !!! -- (and accusations)
“ boost my credibility” - - - well, you made disagreeable insinuations about me personally !!! so I had to defend myself and show you how wrong you were .
“If it is impossible to even drive at 20 km\h, for instance, then reducing the speed limit to 30 km\h will have absolutely no impact”
Oh Gee now this is getting stupid. Surely it is obvious that I was talking about time taken to get from A to B in built-up areas. Read my comment again please - - I said - “The driving style consists mostly of mad acceleration to ridiculous speeds and hard braking at the next traffic congested spot.”
RE “Bust your second myth………To drive at 30 km\h most cars would have to be on third gear and third gear means more engine breaking. “
Engine braking ??? What on earth for? Sorry I don’t buy that – in any case, what I said was: – “energy efficient driving/pollution doesn’t come in here because we are talking about piddly distances “
“Which is exactly what has happened wherever so-called traffic calming measures” - - - “invariably end up giving rise to higher incidences of rat racing from one sleeping police to the next.” Exactly - rat racing at high speeds! You prove my point...
Wonderful !!! Mr Malley this sounds as ignorant as Traffic Malta ( TM ) whose pathetic road design vocabulary is limited to just 2 things…..“one way street” and “traffic humps” . Sorry, Mr Malley, there are many more ways to skin a cat – ditto: there is far more than traffic calming than you seem to be aware of !
“If you have the time to walk and cycle, then I wish you all the best in your mundane hobbies”
Mundane ??? Spoken like a true bicycle –hating Maltese or Englishman ! And what a whopper of a non-sequitur!!!
“I also have to admit to be envious of you as you manage to find the time to do so” – ““ Perhaps research science after all pays very well and affords its practitioners a lot of free time.” _
Careful Mr Malley ! You are reverting to mild insult mode !!! In any case. These are irrelevant comments which show that you really have no valid answer to my defense. So I answer personally again: - - - I never ‘wasted time’ at all cycling – You see, I used to cycle to work (thus building exercise into my daily routine) - so did a certain, very well, known progressive doctor, Dr Ronald Williams , in London as long ago as 40 years . - - - AND , in case you are out of touch – so does Boris Johnson today – who (in case you don’t know either) is Mayor of London.
“…..keep up with a modest home loan………… my family and my children……..job …………” – OK, OK - been there too…. (non-sequitur?)
“Walking or cycling would mean between an hour and three hours less per day” - (see above)
“Just because you are comfortable and can afford the envious luxury of walking or cycling does not mean that others can”
( non-sequiturs !!!) Me, well off ???!!! (Don't tell the taxman about my hidden millions - pleeeez ! ) - ………… ”The envious luxury of walking or cycling” Eh??? . Well I do cycle everywhere instead of by car whenever possible .. is this a luxury?
Finally the cherry on the cake !!
“depressing .. arrogant car-elimination retort nonsense…..rights of way are pretty clear in defining that a residential road belongs to the motorists’
This is such antiquated , out-dated old hat that it smells of moth balls. Never heard of “home zone” “woonerf” “wohnstrasse”……..etc ??
Bertrand Malley
Oct 16th 2011, 21:29
@ G G Debono:
As I was replying to your arguments and accusations in return: If your contorted logic asks anyone who does not agree with you to grow up (15 Oct 11:24 post) then you should first grow up yourself and allow for the fact that other people might have valid views that do not conform to your myopic world view.
As a matter of fact, you did not show me or anyone else how wrong I was or am. You have just resorted to diatribe because you have no valid arguments to put forward but to arrogantly foist your world view on everybody else.
It is indeed getting stupid ... but it is none of my doing, because you are the one who is coming up with all the idiocies here (GG Debono Vs the whole of Malta should make you realise unless, of course, you want to think like mad men do that everyone else is wrong and that you are the only one who is right).
Most of Malta and those areas where drivers have to drive is built up, so just imagine putting in more 'traffic calming' of any kind you can think of. And you want to say that this would not have an impact on emissions?! Whatever the traffic calming measures you put in, you will only be increasing the incidences of rat racing. Rather than accelerating and decelerating on traffic alone, cars would be reproducing that process, wasting more fuel and polluting more in the process. And you would want us to buy the idea that this would not affect exhaust levels? Incredible!
Boris Johnson might cycle everyday - it is his choice to do so or not to do so, as it is yours to do so locally. BUT neither Williams nor Johnson has ever come up with a preposterous defence of traffic augmenting measures as you do and that is the issue here.
I do not think I need to reply to the rest of your post as it is very clear that you have nothing more of substance to say, but unlike in the arguments that you propose, in mine there are no non sequiturs and no sycophantism.
K Perry
Oct 15th 2011, 16:29
not sure is someone using the local language has mentioned this (difficult when the language suddenly changes half way through a thread) but lowering the speed limits in built up areas is a great idea, but as most seem to complain theres no inforcement.
so lower the speed limit and put in speed humps or 'sleeping policmen' as they are sometimes called.
Make them high enough so moving vehicles HAVE to slow down..
introduce mobile speed cameras occasionally at the behest of residents who have speeding problems.
Get residents to form safety commitees - these people are after all aware of problems on a 24/7 basis in their area so thery can discuss with the authorities who and what are causing problems.
Road narrowing and traffic priority signs. if your really rich bus only controlled bollards in the road.
if only one life is saved it will have been worth it - All these schemes are in operation in mainland european countries and work. I cannot see why Malta should think any differently
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 15th 2011, 16:19
I believe the 30kph is too exagerrated! What is needed is the enforcement of the present 40 kph limit! I urge the Attard Local Council to study this alternative before taking any drastic action.
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Oct 15th 2011, 15:31
Halluna tal Alternattiva.. B rota tista tigri iktar min 30 km. Verament ha ngiebu pajjiz farsa iktar milli diga hu.
G G Debono
Oct 15th 2011, 16:13
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
“ B rota tista tigri iktar min 30 km”
1 ) Inti tirkeb rota sur Seychell? Jekk tirkiba , tirkiba bhala ‘sports’ jew biex tghamel xi ghadja biss?
Bniedem ‘normali’ (jigifieri mhux sportsman) li jirkeb rota bil-kemm jaghmel iktar min 15kph.
2) F’kull kas – x’ghandhom x’jaqsmu dawn il hmerijiet li ghed tghid???
“Verament ha ngiebu pajjiz farsa iktar milli diga hu.”
1 ) Kif ghandek il-wicc titkellem guq ‘farsa’ jekk intlaqtu zewg tfajliet zghar f’Attard stess?
2 ) Kif tista titkellem fuq farsa jekk il-speed limit ta’ 30kph hi accettata go hafna bliet ewropeji bhla haga normali?
3 ) Kif tista titkellem fuq farsa jekk hemm provi li is-sewqan bla razan fejn joghodu in-nies joqtol??
Trid tghid li ahna specjali hawn Malta ? Li m'ghandniex bzonn ligijiet? Li daqs kemm nsuqu sew hadd ma ghandu bzonn jghidinna x'suppost nghamlu ??
.... dan ragunament vera Mickey Mouse
Ralph Cassar
Oct 15th 2011, 18:28
Hallina tridx! Join the rest of the world and grow up.
G G Debono
Oct 15th 2011, 15:24
To ……………………………..wayne scicluna (Today, 12:23)
RE “ I did not buy a mode of transport to drive slower than a bicycle can travel”
Who said that ????????????? ???????
Now, Wayne, if you want to go, say, from St Andrews to Rabat you don't drive through Balzan and Mosta, do you?, - you obviously take the highway No ?
That is, you take the the major bypasses where the limit is 70 -80 kph (or as fast as you want to go as long as you are out of sight of a speed camera) - and where you are unlikely to see (or hit!) people and children.
But if you are in a town centre it’s a different matter – and quite simple – speed kills in residential areas and therefore speed should be restricted.
As to “drive slower than a bicycle can travel” This is a very dodgy statement - - - I have just been to fetch a pair of shoes from a cobbler in Hamrun. I went by bike :
Time needed from my door to the cobbler's door:
Sliema Hamrun – 13 minutes
Hamrun Sliema - 16 minutes.
Ie I was back in just over ½ hour (was 5 minutes at the cobbler) .
Now, wayne, If I had gone in my super-fast VW golf it would have taken me far, far longer – even just finding a parking place and then walking to the shop and back can take half an hour – and then one can meet a traffic jam too. So, unless you are talking about long distance trips on major roads, the a bike is faster.
Sorry but your argument doesn’t hold. Nobody is trying to stop you driving fast on a major road. OK ?
Stefan Enge
Oct 15th 2011, 12:20
Excellent! I would support that. But what would it change? Today we have 40 and still the Arriva busses speed with 80 through Pembroke. Reducing it to 30 they would still speed with 80. Just yesterday an accident happend!
What is missing is enforcing of 40 (or 30).
Ramon Casha
Oct 15th 2011, 12:06
This proposal makes no sense. Certainly speeding cars in residential areas are a problem, but these cars are not driving at the existing speed limit either. If the current speed limit is 40kph and these cars are driving at 80, reducing the speed limit to 30 will only affect those who are currently NOT speeding.
Reducing speed limits to such absurd levels will create the situation that exists in Naxxar, which has a speed limit of 5kph which absolutely nobody adheres to.
G G Debono
Oct 15th 2011, 15:00
Re Reducing speed limits to such absurd levels will create the situation that exists in Naxxar, which has a speed limit of 50kph which absolutely nobody adheres to.
Mr Casha - it is still a step in the right direction
- - - besides if a car hits somebody and it can be shown that the speed limit was exceeded one hopes that the punishment will be more severe.
And , as the saying goes - slowly slowly catchy monkey...
G G Debono
Oct 15th 2011, 11:24
Comment to M Farrugia’s disagreeable remark “Nispera li min hawn ftit iehor ma jghidilnix sabiex nibdew nivvjaggaw fuq xi dar ta fekruna”
This kind of sarcasm is irresponsible and uncivilized.
Mr Farrugia, some months ago two young girls were hit by a car in Attard. They were nearly killed and sustained permanent harm.
The FACTS are these:
Speed is a major cause of death in urban road accidents.
85% percent of pedestrians die if hit by a car traveling at a speed of 60 kph
45% percent of pedestrians die if hit by a car traveling at a speed of 50 kph
5% percent of pedestrians die if hit by a car traveling at a speed of 30 kph
Roads belong to everybody – not only cars – so they should be safe for everybody.
If you have children – would you like your child to be accidentally hit by a car travelling at 60 kph or 30 kph? (if you don’t have children then you sound as though you don’t know what you are talking about)
Anybody with a bit of sense will see the logic of slowing traffic in our residential areas.
Unfortunately we are childishly addicted to our cars and speeding - and we refuse to grow up.
wayne scicluna
Oct 15th 2011, 12:23
Maybe this will sound childish and selfish but I did not buy a mode of transport to drive slower than a bicycle can travel. Ok ppl speed in Attard. Fair enough. But why is EVERYBODY inconvenienced because of the cowboys we have?!
Bertrand Malley
Oct 15th 2011, 14:42
Mr. Debono, what you say is purely illogical.
You are effectively saying that to avoid an accidental death for the irresponsible ones crossing roads without looking properly you want to increase everyone's asthma and other breathing problems, heart disease and cancer rates by having cars go slower, being less efficient and exuding more exhaust.
This is what you call responsible and civilised. Sorry to be so blunt here, but I think that you should first and foremost apply your own logic to yourself and grow up before making such unwarranted sweeping statements.
G G Debono
Oct 15th 2011, 15:33
RE Wayne's "But why is EVERYBODY inconvenienced because of the cowboys we have?!"
Wayne it is not a question of cowboys. The statistics (on 80,000 accidents) are not about cowboys but also about normal careful drivers who ACCIDENTALLY for some reason or another hit a child or pedestrian in a residential area.
So the proposed limit is not because of cowboys but normal drivers. Your cowboys just make matters worse - we have far too many accidents in Malta for our size. There have already been TWO accidents today - - and counting - - - remember it's Saturday - accident day.
Adrian E. Camilleri
Oct 15th 2011, 09:46
A worthy initiative by Attard! Such a law would be most welcome in our part of the island - SWIEQI! Perhaps our Mayor, Mrs. Said could follow suit! The news would be welcome by the majority! Move this on please!
Peter Murray
Oct 15th 2011, 08:28
We already have a 35 km speed limit for residential area's which is NEVER enforced-so how will reducing this limit be remotely effective or ever enforced?
G G Debono
Oct 15th 2011, 10:38
This is not the place for negative comments -
This proposal is to be admired - at last a council has made a sensible step toward making our urban roads more civilised and a safer place for pedestrians and children.
Good luck Mr Cassar
Ralph Cassar
Oct 15th 2011, 13:22
Yes Mr Murray, enforcement is the 'weakest link' not to mention very expensive in this country - in many other areas as well such as illegal dumping, rubbish left on pavements on days reserved for collection of recyclables etc etc etc...
Mr Alfred Grima
Oct 15th 2011, 08:27
Naqra ohra s-Sur Ralph Cassar iressaq mozzjoni sabiex il-karrozza nimbuttawa. Tghidx hmerijiet izjed jekk joghgbok!
M Farrugia
Oct 15th 2011, 10:46
Is-sur Ralph Cassar li jaf li AD qatt ma jista ikollha say fil-parlament malti dak li johlom iqum jghidu kif dejjem ghamlet l-AD. Nispera li min hawn ftit iehor ma jghidilnix sabiex nibdew nivvjaggaw fuq xi dar ta fekruna.
G G Debono
Oct 15th 2011, 10:48
...........il-karrozza nimbuttawa
Good idea Mr Grima - that would be very nice because you won't kill anybody.
Ralph Cassar
Oct 15th 2011, 13:19
M Farrugia is right about one thing: yes, i say what i have to say. For his information the speed limit proposed is for residential roads. I am sick and tired seeing people whizz down residential streets to show off their shiny car. For M Farrugia's information this proposal is not reinventing the wheel - I can mention a whole lsit of cities which have this limit, not to mention a detailed European Parliament report on safer streets for pedestrians. Residential roads do not belong to motorists alone.
i tend to do my 'homework' well you see.
BTW I happen to drive as well (maybe a bit too much too).
Regarding political jibes - not even worth commenting about. I use my energy for more contstructive things.
James Wightman
Oct 15th 2011, 08:24
Well if your stuck behind a 3ton truck/commercial vehicle they should only be doing 35KPH according to the highway code anyway.
If it saves a life why not.
Please choose the reason of your report below: