On street furniture

On March 14, Ireceived a letter from Customer Care, Transport Malta, with fulldetails for the installationof zebra, pelican and puffin crossings.

Most traffic signs are placed far too close to the edge of the pavement- Hugh Arnett

Being specific to Scotland, Wales and England, these are a useful guideline, but as they are not specific to Malta and Gozo, they could be quite hazardous if followed to the letter.

It is written that the maximum speed through zebra crossings should be not more than35 mph, and through pelican crossings not more than 50mph. Drivers must have a clear view of at least one signal head.

“It is recommended thathigh skid resistance surfacesbe provided on the carriageway approaches to pedestriancrossings.” (This applies to all crossings in Malta and notsimply the crossings by the Mosta football pitch andHalmann Vella further down the road.)

The Transport Malta letter says: “You may wish to note that there is actually no Maltese law which defines the maximum speed of vehicles approaching any area in which 100 or more people live.”

In all probability the key word here is ‘approaching’ because we all know that there is a law which states that 50 km/h is themaximum speed allowed in a built-up area and I am still sure that the definition of a built-up area is one in which 100 or more people live. Please prove me wrong.

In my opinion the 60 km/h speed limit painted on the carriageway of Valletta Road on the Mosta side of the junction with Manwella Road is taking the approach speed to hazardouslimits as there are housesadjacent to the speed limit marked on the road and a nasty little roundabout some metres further on.

Without a doubt the nearby residents assume that they live in a 50 km/h speed controlled environment.

This month, almost out of perverse logic, I submit a photo of the zebra crossing adjacent to the exit of the Chadwick Lakes road onto the main Rabat to St Paul’s Bay road. The pole has been missing on one side for over six months. There are no compulsory flashing amber Belisha beacons and no spotlights.

To add to the pedestrians woes, especially at night, onthe sidewalk there is a deep30 cm square hole with amissing cover.

As far as I remember, employees of Transport Malta drive the arterial and distributor roads regularly and take note of missing street fixtures, holes, broken Armco barriers and other equipment.

But does anyone really pay any attention at all?

Street furniture, traffic signs to you and me, are springing up all over the island, incorrectly placed.

Most are far too close to the edge of the pavement, which means that either the poleitself is going to be struck by wing mirrors or the signs themselves are going to be struck, bent or destroyed by passing trucks.

It’s not rocket science for all councils to place them correctly, and paint the more important ones at least with black and white stripes.