Update 4: Traffic chaos persists after Marsa traffic accident

ROBERT HIDE

Aug 30th 2012, 18:38

The standard of driving must be one of the lowest in Europe, most Maltese drivers do not practise defensive driving but rely upon others to stop or give way. When this doesn't happen accidents occur. Another bad trat is that nearly all Maltese male drivers think they own the road. It's about time the police started enforcing the Highway code and should they find people driving badly they should be made to re take their driving test. This would make Malta a safer place to drive. They say that speed kills, WRONG bad drivers + speed kills.Ask yourselves this question 'would you like to meet yourself coming round a corner'?

Mr Peter Korsten

Aug 28th 2012, 23:12

Took us 30 minutes to get from Flamingo to the turn left towards Valletta. Apart from a capacity problem on the roads, there's also a redundancy problem. One day, politics will have to wake up to the fact that there's no way to increase the capacity of the roads, unless some drastic measures are taken, including expropriation and pulling down of houses. The "solution" found for the Kappara roundabout does not bode well, though.

Glad to hear that the driver is doing a little bit better, and I wish him a full and speedy recovery.

S Pace

Aug 28th 2012, 18:41

hallas l licenzji poplu... u mbad tinqala problema bhal din u contingency plans ma jezistu mkien... Haga ohra, ma nistax nifhem kif fl-istess triq ghadna qed nuzaw traffic lights... Bit traffiku kollu li hawn ma nahsbux li wasalna ghal flyover flok dawn it traffic lights?

Duncan Cassar

Aug 28th 2012, 10:01

Good to hear that the driver is ok. But it don't take 6 hrs to remove
The container not even in a 3 rd world country
U ma Tara pulizija imkien !!!!!!!!!!!

laura camilleri

Aug 28th 2012, 07:42

niskanta kif trailer bhal dak jinqeleb jiena!

Glenn Zammit

Aug 28th 2012, 06:40

why dont we use the same laws as other countries. Heavy vehicles to use these major roads have to pass from 2200-0600 or they can use arterial roads like luqa for example. Do you remember an incident when a lovely driver also got smashed in the marsa bridge? Unfortunately some of the truck drivers think that they are the king of the roads by driving in the fast lanes switching from one side to another when they want and if they are driving in a slow lane and see someone that is trying to overtake them they just stir their truck in the fast lane. Police TM and wardens should be used in that peak of time. In the afternoons you can see tm wardens and police but to give fines and that is it

louise barbara

Aug 28th 2012, 01:16

I am writing on behalf of my husband who was the truck driver injured , to thank all the people that wished him speed recovery. He is better now , but still in hospital for observation . like other people said in fact he was not speeding and he is still wondering what must have happened , we thank god that no other victims were involved . and deeply sorry for the chaos caused. He is deeply sorry for the truck as it is his life , we thank so much also the people who rescued him and the police and all the people who helped. A thank you goes also to all the friends and relatives who called , and a special thank you for the emergency stuff of Mater Dei, thanks to all

stephen mifsud

Aug 28th 2012, 01:11

anymore its better to walk in Malta then taking any kind of motorized veachile its become so bad for everyone with all those cars and trucks buses etc etc what have we done this ones beautiful island ????

Stephen Farrugia

Aug 28th 2012, 00:26

Hope the driver is well.

Wondering why this accident had to happen

Wondering why alternative routes haven't been created.... Are we gonna 'step on someone's field' literally if we do?

Eric Camilleri (Q)

Aug 28th 2012, 00:14

Needless to say I wish an early recovery for the driver in this ugly accident. However a very important point for which it seems we Maltese never seem to learn when it comes to management, priorities and principles. This trailer blocked one lane and partially the second one. In view of the rush hour traffic there was no need to remove the truck and trailer in the early evening. This bad decision caused terrible inconvenience to all those caught in the massive jam. Adaquate emergency traffic management and control on site would have siphoned the traffic very quickly and safely until a more suitable hour (such as after 11pm or even later) was allocated to remove the trailer. The result by 8.30pm was traffic still jammed up to Mater Dei and Kappara.

A. Mifsud

Aug 27th 2012, 23:40

All across the world, Radio Traffic Services have been successfully operative for ages. These are short traffic bulletins broadcast across radio stations to inform drivers of road congestion, accidents, floods, works etc. At least one will try to avoid as much as possible. Amazingly enough we feel that here, in one of the most densely and badly planned road networks in the world, we can do without. Or at least we feel its not necessary.

I'm sure that with their introduction - if professionally set up, we can reduce the chaos from our roads when the worst happens. If one estimates the amount of additional pollution (exhaust), loss of time and unnecessary wasted fuel costs (must be tens of thousands of Euro if not hundreds of thousands) these traffic jams generate, such radio service would repay back itself in a matter of days.

On a final note I wish a speedy recovery to this unfortunate driver.

George Attard

Aug 27th 2012, 23:25

Hope the driver makes a recovery. coming from St. Julian's I was planning to go to Tarxien. Got stuck where the turn in to St. Phillip's hospital so decided to turn right at the Santa Venera tunnels towards Zebbug. Got stuck in Attard for a while then took the long way towards Zebbug rather than making a left after Attard. Traffic easy there until I got to the Kia showroom in Qormi where it took me 45 mintues to get to the round a bout to turn up the hill to go to Luqa. Once I got on that road it was plain sailing. Total trip time from St. Julian's was an hour and 45 minutes from about 18.15 so I was lucky considering. If I had kept left at the Santa Venera tunnel I was told it would have taken me even longer.

G G Debono

Aug 27th 2012, 23:22

Somebody commented:

"One road gets blocked and the whole of Malta comes to a stand still,anyone seeing the problem?"

The problem is universal and there is basically no solution. (Apart from using a motorcycle or bicycle). I remember once being held up by a massive traffic jam in London while on my way to Heathrow, it stretched from West London to well eastward of The City - the cause ? One traffic lane was blocked because repairs were being carried out down a manhole ( in Gunther Street ) about 8 miles away in the west - missed my Flight, of course.

Malta's situation is fast approaching that of a large city - and we'll have to learn to live with traffic problems .

Mr Kevin Zammit

Aug 27th 2012, 22:08

Honestly ... seriously lets call a spade a spade and stop being hypocritical about things. how did the idiot manage to overturn a 40 foot on a five lane that is barely 300 meters long and a bend smack in the middle

DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,

Aug 27th 2012, 21:48

I recall the deep frustration and the very long hours wasted when that crane, that stupid crane, not the prudent driver of course, had hit the pedestrian bridge at Aldo Moro Road. That day I was accompanied by a group of French & German clients and we were on the way to a crucial appointment. We ended up at the Airport Restaurant and the duration was from 1.30pm when we had left Corradino Prisons to 7pm when we left the Airport Building. Little - AS USUAL - was mentioned thereafter. It certainly was a case of mismanaged orders when most police were apparently with the Prime Minister`s entourage who had a public commitment in Gozo that day: INEFFICIENCY AT ITS BEST.

This day I was luckier as a scheduled afternoon appointment was cleared in good time during the morning.............but regrettably so many other frustrated drivers in this terrible heat and humidity were not. Can we not have emergency contingency plans when this central Malta section, such a vital link up with other connecting roads to all of Malta, is hit by such, irresponsible accidents. Naturally, only the vehicles are to blame...............that is the reason why all is hushed up.

Peter Bonnici

Aug 27th 2012, 21:44

So lets see if I understood properly. The trailer overturns but road does not get blocked. So we block the road during peak traffic time to unload the cargo.

To hell with the truck and cargo, just get the driver to safety, let traffic through, and start the recovery when the rush abates.

Can the authorities get anything right?

David Apap

Aug 27th 2012, 21:37

Left St.Julians at 5pm. Arrived at Zabbar 8.05pm (another accident at buleben). That explains itself I think.

Aaron Cassar

Aug 27th 2012, 21:15

2 hours from sliema to zabbar tal mickey mouse

twanny borg

Aug 27th 2012, 21:13

fid-9pm ghaddejt u kien ghadu kollox iggamjat. ruxmata trakkijiet tal-kumpanija. ghaliex ma twarrabx wara nofs il-lejl meta ma jkunx hemm traffiku? il-container wahdu mall-hajt ma kienx qed johloq ostaklu. kien hemm pjanijiet lesti ghal cirkostanzi bhal dawn? din hija arterja importanti specjalment ghall-ajruport.

j dough

Aug 27th 2012, 21:12

thank goodness no unfortunate person got squashed by the overturning trailer...

Rodrick Azzopardi

Aug 27th 2012, 21:09

Wish the driver a speedy recovery..

Why does it take so long to free the road? With all the heavy machinery that was in place it should have taken only minutes

salvatore balzan

Aug 27th 2012, 20:53

Mill port sa hal Tarxien domt saghtejn,apparti li dort nofs Malta.!!!!!!! U F daqshekk traffic ma tarax lill xi hadd jidderigi t traffiku.

Mr Nathan zammit

Aug 27th 2012, 20:41

why don't we get radio traffic updates?? most car radios have the option to detect traffic announcements and switches to them whenever an announcement is made.. Why is this service useless in our country?

S. Camilleri

Aug 27th 2012, 20:34

But what is the logic of closing off this top traffic artery once it was determined that the driver was out of danger and the overturned trailer was of no danger to others?
It is clear from the video that the trailer was on the side of the road with at least two traffic lanes in the clear!! Why not wit till say 2100 hours, issue a news release and then carry out the recovery hours outside rush hour?? Does one require a PhD to come up with this???

Victor Pulis

Aug 27th 2012, 20:29

Some months ago the civil protection Department declared that Malta was ready to face a major catastrophe. I know the traffic chaos is not their fault and that they do a fantastic job on accident sites but whenever theré's an accident in this stretch of road Malta comes to a stand still. I hate to imagine if a major disaster had to strike Malta.

James Zammit

Aug 27th 2012, 20:28

There is still quite a great deal of traffic.... Clearly it could have been handled better !

Vince Peresso

Aug 27th 2012, 20:28

Now I say since the road had to be closed to remove the trailerand container, and once the driver was taken out of the abin and taken to hospital, may I ask could this operation not have been carried out late in the eveing or at night when traffic is normally at its lowest?

Carmel Ellul

Aug 27th 2012, 20:06

When will the cabinet appoint TM , Civil Defence , Police to effectively make and put into effect plans to keep traffic moving in the bottle neck main roads that by now everybody knows that stop Malta from functioning due to an accident .
This farce cannot continue to happen, God help us if a national emergency occurs.
This is more important than the fancy laws being discussed by the politicians.

Dunstan Crockford

Aug 27th 2012, 19:51

Hopefully the driver is not in a serious condition! My thoughts are for the poor Traffic Police who have been on the scene trying to control the chaos created!

P Mizzi

Aug 27th 2012, 19:45

It's taken me an hour to go from San Gwann to Qormi and I'm still stuck here at 19.45!! Something has to be done about this. Accidents happen and this is why there are contingency plans. TM should have a serious plan that kicks in the minute there is a blockage at a main artery. You don't need genius consultants to work this out.

Mr Oliver Attard

Aug 27th 2012, 19:41

I wish a speedy recovery to the driver.

The authorities need to be more sensitive when closing our roads. I was in traffic by the Lija Cemetry at around 17:00, on my way for a lecture at Paola at 17:30, arrived at 18:45. Lecture was cancelled as so many students and the lecturer were late. On my way back I noticed that the mechanical horse had already been removed and workers were unloading the trailer while the road was still closed.

The overturned truck was not being an obstruction but the cranes of the same company were. In circumstances like this the cranes should had been removed until the trailer was ready to be lifted.

Ivan Visanich

Aug 27th 2012, 19:38

@ antoine farrugia ... didnt have a clue what happened at qormi,traffic started at the zebbug by pass,was driving like a snail but then all got jammed near the kia/opel showroom,managed to get out of qormi,ended up near flamingo and all was stuck there too.switched engine off as i was completely stuck and had nowhere to go,thanks to the times portal on my mobile i got to know of the accident otherwise would have taken a different route.

Nicholas Grech

Aug 27th 2012, 19:31

One road gets blocked and the whole of Malta comes to a stand still,anyone seeing the problem?

A. Attard

Aug 27th 2012, 19:25

Wishing a speedy recovery to the driver.
One question - why can't the airwaves especially the radios transmit what is happening? Drivers would thus avoid the area where possible. Or possibly consider taking a different route. Whilst changing routes I was also changing radio stations. But not even one gave any info on what was happening. I guess it is too much effort to inform the public in a timely manner??

Victor Pulis

Aug 27th 2012, 19:19

If I'm not mistaken once there was a similar accident involving a container at the same spot. The container was so heavy it left its imprint in the tarmac.

Andrea Giallombardo

Aug 27th 2012, 19:03

Well done to the Civil Protection Department. True heroes!

Leonard Cole

Aug 27th 2012, 19:02

In Malta we have Hidden Historians, Traffic Experts and various other categories of Experts. Everyone or to be exact most of the people in said blogs have the privilege to jump to conclusions. Cause we someone speeding lets all blame the rest ...

Ivan Visanich

Aug 27th 2012, 18:59

Meant to write 6.15 not 6 ...

David Farrugia

Aug 27th 2012, 18:52

In Malta too many vehicles and small roads. Result - congestion and waist of time. Waist of time commuting costs money too for the economy. In the USA, if a vehicle hinders a trailer to arrive for its destination is a federal offense - it is called economic offense. Malta needs wider roads and junctions. But it seems that our priorities are not set properly.

J Galea

Aug 27th 2012, 18:39

Second major accident in that same spot over the last 3 days.

Ivan Visanich

Aug 27th 2012, 18:27

55 minutes to get from buskett to luqa .... 5.22 left buskett,6 dead arrived at airport.

Shaun Piscopo

Aug 27th 2012, 18:27

This may not be caused by overspeeding.. It can be that the trailer was not loaded as its supposed to be... I also need to note that several truck drivers tend to overtake slow moving cars just for the fact that they are loaded and cant always shift to lower gears every time they want... Its very difficult to drive a full loaded truck especially when you are in an uphill..
Also i need to note that aldo moro road is getting worse in seconds.. The tarmac is a disaster especially that small turn in front of Scan on the third lane...there's a hump that can thump you over

A. Attard

Aug 27th 2012, 18:06

just so i want to clear someting out...whoever said that the truck driver was speeding i am happy to deny it! I was there on two other lanes...there was allready a traffic jam there so i dont know where some of u got the speeding thing out but he wasnt driving very slowly...i happened to notice the truck come by at a very normal speed since it had a heavy load...i might blame it on the load couse it overturned right as it was turning to the left...... on a better note i really would love to know how the driver is doing and i wish him a really speedy recovery!

Mr Jamie Frendo

Aug 27th 2012, 17:56

The only two comments here seem to be blaming speed, keep it in mind it's not speed alone (not saying it's not to blame in certain cases) that kills it's carelessness also plays big part, last week in the same road 1 person pulled out of a parking spot not using any mirrors or indicators and another person 2 minutes later blatantly done a u turn in a main road nearly hitting me of my motorbike and neither of them were driving at more than 20kph. it's utter CARELESSNESS that causes most accidents and people that seem to own the road as if only they use it like driving in the middle of a main road (Mgarr bypass etc) that's single lane at 35kph

Michael Lloyd

Aug 27th 2012, 17:54

There is no indication anywhere in this article that this incident was caused by speeding; indeed, no reason has been given so far, yet once again we hear complaints about "speeding." Some people are so fixated on speed that they ignore the many other possible causes of road accidents. Driving at some arbitrary speed limit is not automatically "safe." This vehicle appears to have been an articulated lorry. It is a fact that under certain circumstances, such as negotiating a roundabout, vehicles of this type can fall over through travelling too slowly, a phenomenon known as "low-speed rollover." Hence excess speed is not always a factor! Until we are told why this vehicle overturned, your remarks are based on speculation only.

Pule' Carmel

Aug 27th 2012, 17:43

Once I investigated a case when an airport trailer fuel tanker overturned. On testing the whole rig, I found that this tanker rig taking a shallow turn at 30 miles per hour lifted the inside wheels. This tanker did not have the right baffles to stop the sloshing of fuel when the trailer turned.
It is excessive speed that normally cause accidents. I shall repeat that
IT IS EXCESSIVE SPEED THAT NORMALLY CAUSE TRAFFIC INCIDENTS.

James Grech

Aug 27th 2012, 17:41

@Joseph Sammut
Totally concur with your concern. Apart from setting up speed limits and accessibility for such vehicles, TM should also consider regularizing horses driven in arterial and principle roads. These cowboys tend not to keep to any road code at all. Some moving at a walking pace during peek hours causing unnecessary havoc. Not to mention the animals' smelly and filthy manure contributions. Horses and their owners should stick to a racing track.

carmel muscat

Aug 27th 2012, 17:31

jiddispjacini najd li hafna mil l iccidenti li jigru hawn malta huwa kollu tort ta sewqan zejjed imbadt kullhadt iwahhal li tilef il kontrol hasra meta ikolna imwiet wara dawn lincidenti u inhallu il familjari jibku u xorta nibqu ma nitalmux ax speeds ma jeziztux kullhadt addej sparat dan lahhar il bambin habna ax wiehed hareg min kantunira sparat u ma laqatniex ax baqa dihel go hajt mela min kantunira wiehed ghandu jiohrog sparat insaqsi jiena fejnom il pulizzija u il gwardjani lokalli ?????????????????????

Joseph Sammut

Aug 27th 2012, 17:29

Speed, speed, speed. Yesterday, I was driving down from Targa Gap towards Burmarrad. Exactly where a week ago there was the motorcycle accident, a full size tanker was coming the other way. It must have been empty because it was going at a good clip. This bravo did not intend to slow down and changed lane through two cars in such a way that can only be condoned on a race track, if at all. If he hit one of these cars, it would have crashed into me as well. Is it true that recently TM established new speed limits to heavy vehicles? Why aren't stretches of roads like this patrolled regularly? Why do people have to be injured and/or killed because of these hooligans?