School traffic nightmare
Christian Peregin asks what can be done about road chaos when term starts
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
It happens every year. Schools open their doors and roads are jam-packed with traffic.
“A 10-minute drive has become a 45 minute drive,” is how one reader described his journey.
Although the presence of traffic police seems to have eased some problem areas, other roads have become a cacophony of hooting cars and road rage.
Considering the ever-increasing number of vehicles on the roads, the situation is unlikely to improve without significant changes.
The Times asked its online readers and road experts to try to come up with a workable solution.
One of the issues keeping parents away from school transport is the cost, which in many cases exceeds tuition fees. “It would cost us €300 per term,” said a reader identifying himself as C. Pisani.
Gabriel Grech added that the cost of owning a car just to take the children to school is approximately equal to the cost of mini-bus tariffs.
“Everybody will prefer to have their own car and take his children safely to school himself,” he said.
The Government has tried to ease the situation by offering free transport to schoolchildren who attend State schools, but even this has failed to reap the desired results, as many parents still opt for the school-run themselves.
Parents explained that their choice was not just motivated by money but also by convenience and safety considerations.
Katie Worley said her boys are picked up at 6.45am, and reach their school an hour before it opens, “unsupervised”.
Katya Rossignaud added: “It’s unfair that young children are picked up way too early, to enable the mini-van to fit in two journeys instead of one – and drive like maniacs to do so.” Adrian Agius seemed to agree: “How can I trust the life of my daughter to one of these Formula One drivers?”
Another problem is that the vans, which collect schoolchildren of different ages, can become a haven for bullying. “I would gladly send my daughter by transport provided by the school, but the issue of bullying keeps me back,” said K. Cassar.
So what are the solutions?
Some have called for more safety and supervision, while others believe the key is having a more efficient service.
Director of Paramount Coaches, Leo Grech, said the solution was in schools starting at different times.
Most schools begin between 7.50 and 8.15am, giving drivers a 20-minute window in which to get children to school on time. “Why don’t primary schools start at 9am?”
Though many parents criticise drivers for trying to fit in as many trips as possible in the morning, he said drivers had no choice. “You can’t make a living otherwise.”
Van driver Emanuel Falzon, chairman of Mini-bus Coop, agreed that schools should open their doors at different times. This would also allow drivers to drive slower and more safely, he said.
But solutions must be based on a clear understanding of why parents are not opting to use transport.
One of the problems is that coaches are too big to supply transport in narrow roads, forcing children to end up waiting in main roads even when it is raining.
But the cost remains an issue with independent and Church schools, he said, adding that the State could subsidise a part of the school transport.
“After all, although they are going to a private school they are still students of the State.”
Bernie Mizzi, a school head and chairwoman of the Independent Schools Association, believes schools should combine forces.
“If we want to be really creative, schools of an area could organise transport together from particular areas. Why should Chiswick use a separate system to St Michael’s? If we were to put our heads together we could make it far more economical and far less damaging to the environment.”
“We should be employing the 21st century skills we want our children to learn: critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. We want our kids to do all this but we should do it ourselves first. And I think we can do this if we really get our heads together.”
She agreed that the Government should also consider the idea of providing assistance to independent and Church schools the way it did with State schools
The public’s 10 proposals:
1. Schools and transport companies should combine
resources to provide routes to schools in the same vicinity
(e.g. San Anton and San Andrea; Chiswick and St Michael’s).
2. Vans should be made safer with the use of CCTV cameras,
tracking devices that monitor speed and location and
constant supervision involving parent volunteers.
3. Staggered school opening times would enable drivers
to carry out two or three trips without having to take children
to school too early or too late.
4. Smaller vehicles, like minivans, should be used instead
of larger coaches so children can be picked up from home
instead of main roads.
5. The Government could offer subsidies to encourage
use of schemes that reduce traffic.
6. Heavy traffic like trucks and bendy buses could be
banned from rush-hour, especially on key school-run routes.
7. A traffic policeman should be provided to each school,
including independent and Church schools.
8. Arriva could provide a specialised and subsidised service
just for schoolchildren on the most popular school-run
routes which would include adequate supervision.
9. Subways and bridges could be used in areas such as
Corradino Hill to eliminate the use of traffic lights or pedestrian
crossings that slow down traffic.
10. Children who live close to their schools should be
encouraged to walk or cycle to school in groups.
Do you have a better idea? Have your say on
‘Year opened very smoothly’ – Ministry
Education Minister Dolores Cristina said the scholastic year opened “very smoothly” thanks to a great amount of preparation and the help of the police.
Asked about some of the inconveniences faced by children, the minister’s spokesman said school opening times were already staggered between 7.45 and 8.30am and extending this to earlier or later hours would negatively affect the whole school community.
According to a seven-year contract signed with transport providers for State schools, students cannot be picked up more than one hour before school opens, the spokesman added.
“This rule is honoured in the main. There are a few difficulties especially on routes in remote areas where coaches cannot enter and thus a student would need to be picked up by a van and then transported to a pick up point on the main route.
” The ministry added that the majority of parents in the State sector use school transport. The spokesman concluded: “The scenario is that we live on a small island with many vehicles and thus it is important for all to take the necessary precautions so as not to increase traffic on the roads.”
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Matthew Grima
Sep 30th 2012, 09:20
Traffic lights are a mess in Malta.
I recently noticed in Imsida, that when light turns green for cars coming from subway towards Imsida centre and are turning to their left. The lane on the opposite side that allows drivers to go towards subway remains red. What's the point when there's no cars crossing in-front of you?
And the amount of 2-lane to 1-lane then to 2-lane again and so on in Malta doesn't help one bit.
Double parking (especially in main roads) should be punished severely.
The worst times are chosen for roadworks. Recently they were retouching road markings at 8:30am in Qormi.
Steve Zammit
Sep 29th 2012, 13:00
I use to ride my bicycle to go to school
And wait till University and JC students start next week
s bajada
Sep 28th 2012, 22:38
Bla bla bla and no one does nothing. Have anyone of you considered that the much traffic there is the government is gaining a lot of fuel consumption plus works on deterioration of cars police around round abouts tm officials doing nothing etc etc . These are the jobs being generated guys com,on stop complaining .
joe briffa
Sep 28th 2012, 21:54
Its a hell hole every morning,bringing kids to school is a problem,driving to work is hell after 7.00,everywhere is blocked,and when it rains its even worse,you are stuck for at least 2 hours in traffic and cannot fidn a way out going or coming back from work.
I guess the people who organize and plan the roads and streets have no idea of the flow and how to solve everything, by widening the roads from 2 to 3 or 4 lane on each side,and the flow will get better,buthere there is a system apart from the very bad state of the roads,they are made like a funnel,from 2 lane to 1 lane,I cannot understand, are these crazy??? I tell you its a hopless case the traffic,as well to the attitude of the drivers...prosit for everything to every government who done nothing to make the roads better and safer. Please come and knock on my door this election ,you are very welcome.LOL!!!!
Paul Azzopardi
Sep 28th 2012, 20:50
One thing Arriva can do to improve the service is by eliminating the fact that buses enter the park and ride on the way to Valletta. In doing this for example the Zebbug bus enters the Qormi roundabout twice. Besides that, it is prolonging the time of the trip. The time to enter and exit the park and ride (not to mention the changing of the driver) is irritating passengers. The interchanging of buses should be enrout for example, in the Qormi area, along Manwel Dimech street.
Mary Borg
Sep 28th 2012, 20:20
There is only one solution to cut out all this pollution and madness on the streets but we need a serious and experienced group of people to tackle it and that's building an underground train network. If it could be done in London and Rome with all their remains and archaeological difficulties I don't see why it can't be done in Malta. It would be very comfortable to arrive from the south of the island to the north in a jiffy. All it takes is a couple of stations in every locality. But the government doesn't give a hoot about pollution, people's comfort and peace of mind. Cars are a good source of tax revenue and so is petrol. So I'm not holding my breath till someone takes the proposal seriously.
Maurice Cini
Sep 28th 2012, 18:43
TransportMalta together with the Public Transport Arriva are a public mess.-DISASTER!!!
The Public had long ago lost trust and faith in ARRIVA as after nearly fifteen months in service Arriva with the blessing of TM,has still not kept its times of arrivals and even more in departures of public Transport.
This is what happens when the previously DESPACHERS(Govt.Employed) were REMOVED by TM and Arriva was left to do what she likes especially in departures from Valletta. I have sent many,many emails to all the Authorities, including the Prime Minister. Regretfully, no one cares.
By the old system,we have had dirty buses,arrogant bus drivers and old broken buses running
around.However regarding departure/arrivals times, the service was excellent.
Now we have new confortable buses, nice educated bus drivers, air conditioning etc etc .however the service lacks the important factor that is the Departure Times which no one can predict if and when the bus is coming.
This ARRIVA disservice has the effect that we are having on our roads.If people don't have an efficient public transport one has to go for using his private car, thus creating more traffic on our roads.
SO PLEASE SENT SOME DISPACHERS TO CHECK ABOUT BUSES DEPARTURE FROM VALLETTA BUS STATION.
G G Debono
Sep 28th 2012, 21:41
"""""By the old system,we have had dirty buses,arrogant bus drivers and old broken buses running
around.However regarding departure/arrivals times, the service was excellent""""
Yes exactly -
the new bus routes were designed on the back of an envelope - and of course they were ambitious but of no use. .
L Galea
Sep 28th 2012, 17:35
Years ago it was not such a problem to get school transport. I wonder why it is now. I think some parents cushion their children too much!
G G Debono
Sep 28th 2012, 16:17
To William Attard McCarthy
RE 16. Drivers over 40 should be made to sit for the theory test again...yes, I am serious!
You can’t be serious ??? Golly !
I take it that you are under forty years old ? My dear Mr Attard - there is nothing better for safe driving than experience.
Younger drivers who have just got their license are the ones with highest accident rates ! Most if not all of crazy reckless driving come from under 40s - - - esp under 25 etc ………. we have a very immature attitude to cars and use them as an outlet for showing off and asserting ourselves, rather than a means of transport. Over-forties will have grown out of this .... there are some few older drivers who are little selfish dictators on the road and are a bit dangerous – but no amount of testing will change their character – only hefty fines.
The only way to improve road conditions is ENFORCEMENT - there is no presence of police on our roads and many drivers go feral & do what they like. And these are mostly young drivers.
fredu debono
Sep 28th 2012, 15:16
my children arrive at school when the teachers are still in bed, cause the driver has more trips to do and the expenses for the transport are equivalent as keeping the car for a whole year.
Daniel Vella
Sep 28th 2012, 14:58
Why is Malta's traffic flow still not centrally managed by means of a control room and traffic lights at every junction? Why do we still depend on road courtesy and old rules to manage our roads? Just imagine having a system where roads are dynamically opened and closed according to traffic flow in different times of the day. The system could also feed back information to motorists by means of mobile apps or more commonly by radio broadcasts as happens in cities abroad. Our environment could benefit so much from reduced emissions. I also suggest transport malta opening a suggestion box. The state of our roads has reached such a poor level simply because there is no feedback system to help improve our road network system.
John Zammit
Sep 28th 2012, 14:58
Lets not all forget that when the junior Lyceum tal Handaq Use to start lesson at 9.00 am many protested (The hours were from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm )
Ms Maria Vella
Sep 28th 2012, 14:13
Use School Transport for heaven's sake, I used to go to school with school transport, it wasn't supervised or anything and nothing bad ever happened to us. Or else car pool, be considerate to other drivers that would like to get to work at a decent time without having to wake up at an unearthly hour
Frank Muscat
Sep 28th 2012, 14:06
One solution which has worked in Athens is that cars whose number end in even will be driven on a specific day and those cars whose number end in odds will be driven on the next day or vice versa. By this solution traffic in Athens has halved.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Sep 28th 2012, 14:06
QUOTE: Director of Paramount Coaches, Leo Grech, said the solution was in schools starting at different times.
Most schools begin between 7.50 and 8.15am, giving drivers a 20-minute window in which to get children to school on time. “Why don’t primary schools start at 9am?”
Though many parents criticise drivers for trying to fit in as many trips as possible in the morning, he said drivers had no choice. “You can’t make a living otherwise.”
Van driver Emanuel Falzon, chairman of Mini-bus Coop, agreed that schools should open their doors at different times. This would also allow drivers to drive slower and more safely, he said. UNQUOTE
This does not bode well if they are prepared to compromise the safety of children for the sake of financial benefit.
How many of these vans still do not have safety belts and how many still carry more children than they have seats?
laura anderson
Sep 28th 2012, 13:55
The whole school transport system needs to be readdressed by the Government and TM. This article has highlighted only a few of the problems with the school transport system in Malta.
Even in Government schools where transport is free most parents still opt to pay for a car to drive their child to school because the school transport is unsafe and no one in Government/TM/the schools seems to care.
I walk my daughter to school now and it's a 20 minute walk (yes I will even do it rains as all you need is a raincoat and boots) The weather does not worry me when I'm walking, it's only the cars on the roads that I cross that scare me.
People in Malta need to change their attitudes towards road safety in general and only then will more parents want to send their child on the school bus or walk/cycle with them to school then perhaps the schools can be more relaxed about what children eat because they will actually be getting some daily exercise.
For any more info or thoughts on school bus safety in Malta pls visit my facebook group 'protect our school children Malta'.
Mr Evan Camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 13:43
...besides most comments listed here, it is obvious that the road structure do not help - a lot was done BUT a lot more need to be done.
- MARSA !!! (and St Lucia/Tarxien roundabout)
- a bridge needs to link the St. Venera - Msida tunnels
- flyover instead of the roundabout (Gzira/San Gwann)
...
Mr Peter Vella
Sep 28th 2012, 13:38
With so many cars in such a small island traffic jams are something that cannot be avoided. None of the suggestions made will make the slightest difference. People will still prefer to use their cars to public transport (however cheap and efficient it may be) and walking or using a bike in such congested roads is too dangerous.
There is only one solution, a metro system (underground trains). It is a very expensive option but it is the only one that will make a difference. To me it is better to spend money on this than on a tunnel to Gozo. The system can grow over time, so the capital expense need not be made in one go.
Lawrence Bellizzi
Sep 28th 2012, 13:28
for the public in general: why don't you cycle to work? we are leaving carbon marks all around us!! we are creating our own DISEASES, this is what I do every morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBKWTCV6Dx8&feature=plcp !!!! agree with small vans and to combine resources.
John Borg
Sep 28th 2012, 13:05
People complain about traffic yet continue to use their cars. public transport is much more efficient and comfortable these days. yet many still prefer to take their car even to Valletta. the car park in Valletta is always jam packed and is set to double its spaces, meaning there will be double the cars on the road leading to it! All this in a country where people complain about fuel prices and all other prices. recession my left foot!
Alexander Pace Gouder.
Sep 28th 2012, 13:02
Come for a visit to St.George's Road,Borg Olivier Street, Main Street, St.Julians and Tower Road, Sliema Morning from 8.00am to 9.00am (Peak traffic Jams) .I have spent some time noticing what is happening. Since this week also from about 7.30 traffic starts gathering. Traffic Jam Galore - at one instance to- day 5 Bendy Buses( incredible but true) and two other buses from Arrival behind each other. The volume of Arriva buses passing through these street has increased during the last three months when many routes (rescheduled and redirected) were divered to these streets by Arriva. The service is Very Good but the problem is that These buses are too big for these streets although MAIN STREETS and also do not fit into the present bus stops(and some are not in the correct places) and thus all traffic stops until they restart the trip .Usually each bus is taking and stops on bus stops for approx 3mins sometimes even 7 mins when probably the driver is issuing tickets because at this time most passengers are getting their (Day) return ticket. The situation is getting from bad to worst and traffic jams (heading in direction to Balluta/ Sliema/Valletta) from Paceville up to Tower Rd., Sliema.
Tania Attard
Sep 28th 2012, 12:53
this is a problem which MUST BE TACKLED WITHOUT DELAY. As time goes by, more and more parents opt to drive their children themselves & if it is by choice then each school must respect this and look at its own locality and come up with solutions to alleviate these problems within the locality.
Two schools in particular, built next door to each other, should do everything in their power to put pressure on the Government or whoever is responsible to offer solutions to these problems. Many solutions to this problem have been offered to the schools by parents themselves. Isn't it about time that maybe the schools should take this opportunity to use these solutions?
One particular solution might be to utilise a road running through a valley very close to both these schools to be used one way up or down, therefore creating a ring road.
This will surely decrease the number of cars presently using a two way road.............when in reality this road is only fit for cars to go one way.
Surely, a concession can be made for this road running through the valley to be made accessible just half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the afternoon during peak times?
I don't know what our schools are waiting for to put pressure on the Roads Department or whoever is responsible to see that these things are tackled in the proper manner WITHOUT DELAY.
Are we waiting for a tragedy to take place?
Has safety ever entered the minds of those people in Higher ranks who run our independent schools?
Have they ever wondered what would happen if the areas within the schools need to be evacuated due to an accident?
Who will shoulder the responsibility then?
AND WHO WILL BRING OUR CHILDREN BACK?
We need competent people who have the guts and energy and are willing to tackle the problems NOW!
What is unfortunately and sad is that the people who have the authority to run our independent schools do not experience these problems on a daily basis just like us parents do.................everyday!
PARENTS HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!
George Calleja
Sep 28th 2012, 12:53
Mizibilju kummenti u proposti! Hadd ma jghid li llum il-gurnata hawn karozza ghal kull persuna l-fuq minn 18 il-sena. Harsu lejn il-'driving schools' kif inhuma ppakkjati bix-xoghol ta kull min ghalaq l-eta. Mhux bilfors il-kongestjoni jekk tara l-'mummies' ghaddejjin bil-karozza jgorru tifel/tilfa zghira lejn l-iskola? Kulhadd komdu li jkollu karozza llum. Dan apparti li anki jekk l-iskola tkun wara l-kantuniera, xorta nwasslu t-tfal bil-karozza! Il-gvern jipprovdi trasport b'xejn imma hadd ma jrid ikun aghar mill-gara li tiehu t-tfal bil-karozza taghha. U l-karozzi ghax ghandhom ikun ikbar minn trakkijiet? Ejjew Tas Sliema u tara karozzi enormi f'idejn nisa bil-kemm jidhru fiha. Ghaddu minn Mrabat u B'kara Rd kull filghodu! Hadd ma jista jghaddi anki minhabba l-Arriva u trakkijiet tal-bini. Il-progress gab ir-rigress. Dak kollu.
Paul Azzopardi
Sep 28th 2012, 20:42
Prosit. Dawn il-karozzi kbar mhux ghaddattati ghal Malta. Kulltant tahseb li mhiexja wahidha il-karozza. U hafna minnhom registration free!!!!!!!
D Axisa
Sep 28th 2012, 12:46
Abroad i think they have rush hour transport prices.
So, why doesn't Arriva offer a lower prices for rush hours say 7am till 9am and maybe 4pm till 6pm. People with Kartaanzjan pay 50c and i think if Arriva offers tickets at say 75c return during rush hours many people will opt for Public Transport and that will ease traffic problems.
But maybe Arriva just want to complain because may drivers don't give way to oncoming buses but doesn't mention anything about how many drivers drive. If Arriva wants to ease traffic problems it should offer reduced prices during rush hour. Am sure they will get their money back, because many people will start using public transport.
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 12:41
Yesterday afternoon I was driving out next to St.Martin's collage and was surprised that there was a huge traffic jam in the Triq is-Swatar area. I though there was an accident since the cars were not moving at all. After crawling up the road slowly, I noticed that there were St.Martin's collage students & lots of mums picking up their kids - one genius mum actually parked her SUV car in the middle of the side road, blocking traffic coming down - she them came leisurely back to the car, opened the door for her kid, got inside, and slowly slowly started to move the car & OBVIOUSLY pretend that she could even U-Turn to head out i guess!!
I think that the biggest problem we have is the inadequate public transportation, but also the fact that we are driving the kids everywhere - from kindergarten up to junior collage and university!! I wonder if these kids will ever be independent in life!
Mr Joe Camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 12:34
ARRANGE THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICE.
Maurice Cini
Sep 28th 2012, 18:14
Agreed 100% Very Well Said.
Dave Alan Caruana
Sep 28th 2012, 12:31
my morning trip takes me from Sliema to San Gwann round 7.45am ie. peak rush hour .. every day this week a policeman has been stationed at the narrow part of Mrabat street, directing traffic, and this has helped tremendously! If only drivers learnt to wait (there is adequate space for waiting at both ends of the narrow road) when they see that traffic at the other end of the street is stationery it would save a LOT of grief.
Gordon Cook
Sep 28th 2012, 12:27
6. Heavy traffic like trucks and bendy buses could be
banned from rush-hour, especially on key school-run routes. I thought the idea was to get more people to use the bus???
7. A traffic policeman should be provided to each school,
including independent and Church schools. To do what??? Wardens already hide in the roads that are restricted during specific periods so they can fine drivers who forget or did notice the sign (sometimes it is not easy to spot)
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The Times Logo
Friday, September 28, 2012
School traffic nightmare
Christian Peregin asks what can be done about road chaos when term starts
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
It happens every year. Schools open their doors and roads are jam-packed with traffic.
“A 10-minute drive has become a 45 minute drive,” is how one reader described his journey.
Although the presence of traffic police seems to have eased some problem areas, other roads have become a cacophony of hooting cars and road rage.
Considering the ever-increasing number of vehicles on the roads, the situation is unlikely to improve without significant changes.
The Times asked its online readers and road experts to try to come up with a workable solution.
One of the issues keeping parents away from school transport is the cost, which in many cases exceeds tuition fees. “It would cost us €300 per term,” said a reader identifying himself as C. Pisani.
Gabriel Grech added that the cost of owning a car just to take the children to school is approximately equal to the cost of mini-bus tariffs.
“Everybody will prefer to have their own car and take his children safely to school himself,” he said.
The Government has tried to ease the situation by offering free transport to schoolchildren who attend State schools, but even this has failed to reap the desired results, as many parents still opt for the school-run themselves.
Parents explained that their choice was not just motivated by money but also by convenience and safety considerations.
Katie Worley said her boys are picked up at 6.45am, and reach their school an hour before it opens, “unsupervised”.
Katya Rossignaud added: “It’s unfair that young children are picked up way too early, to enable the mini-van to fit in two journeys instead of one – and drive like maniacs to do so.” Adrian Agius seemed to agree: “How can I trust the life of my daughter to one of these Formula One drivers?”
Another problem is that the vans, which collect schoolchildren of different ages, can become a haven for bullying. “I would gladly send my daughter by transport provided by the school, but the issue of bullying keeps me back,” said K. Cassar.
So what are the solutions?
Some have called for more safety and supervision, while others believe the key is having a more efficient service.
Director of Paramount Coaches, Leo Grech, said the solution was in schools starting at different times.
Most schools begin between 7.50 and 8.15am, giving drivers a 20-minute window in which to get children to school on time. “Why don’t primary schools start at 9am?”
Though many parents criticise drivers for trying to fit in as many trips as possible in the morning, he said drivers had no choice. “You can’t make a living otherwise.”
Van driver Emanuel Falzon, chairman of Mini-bus Coop, agreed that schools should open their doors at different times. This would also allow drivers to drive slower and more safely, he said.
But solutions must be based on a clear understanding of why parents are not opting to use transport.
One of the problems is that coaches are too big to supply transport in narrow roads, forcing children to end up waiting in main roads even when it is raining.
But the cost remains an issue with independent and Church schools, he said, adding that the State could subsidise a part of the school transport.
“After all, although they are going to a private school they are still students of the State.”
Bernie Mizzi, a school head and chairwoman of the Independent Schools Association, believes schools should combine forces.
“If we want to be really creative, schools of an area could organise transport together from particular areas. Why should Chiswick use a separate system to St Michael’s? If we were to put our heads together we could make it far more economical and far less damaging to the environment.”
“We should be employing the 21st century skills we want our children to learn: critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. We want our kids to do all this but we should do it ourselves first. And I think we can do this if we really get our heads together.”
She agreed that the Government should also consider the idea of providing assistance to independent and Church schools the way it did with State schools
The public’s 10 proposals:
1. Schools and transport companies should combine
resources to provide routes to schools in the same vicinity
(e.g. San Anton and San Andrea; Chiswick and St Michael’s).
2. Vans should be made safer with the use of CCTV cameras,
tracking devices that monitor speed and location and
constant supervision involving parent volunteers.
3. Staggered school opening times would enable drivers
to carry out two or three trips without having to take children
to school too early or too late.
4. Smaller vehicles, like minivans, should be used instead
of larger coaches so children can be picked up from home
instead of main roads.
5. The Government could offer subsidies to encourage
use of schemes that reduce traffic.
6. Heavy traffic like trucks and bendy buses could be
banned from rush-hour, especially on key school-run routes.
7. A traffic policeman should be provided to each school,
including independent and Church schools.
8. Arriva could provide a specialised and subsidised service
just for schoolchildren on the most popular school-run
routes which would include adequate supervision. Get real!!! They are not doing the basics too well yet according to many reports
Gordon Cook
Sep 28th 2012, 12:22
"Van driver Emanuel Falzon, chairman of Mini-bus Coop, agreed that schools should open their doors at different times. This would also allow drivers to drive slower and more safely, he said." So they admit that they don't do this usually??
vella m
Sep 28th 2012, 11:56
More flyovers instead of roundabouts.
G G Debono
Sep 28th 2012, 15:01
This will only shift traffic jams elsewhere. With about 2,000 new vehicles registered every month it can only get worse and, in my estimation, we are heading for total gridlock during peak times where cars won't be faster than walking. Enjoy !
As I commented earlier - If motorists don't accept cyclists on the road then they have to live with traffic jams. Even if 5% of people use a bike it will make a difference.
I use a bike whenever possible - - - - which is now nearly all the time. - - not only do I get there quicker if it's a medium to short journey, I also have absolutely no parking problem. I hate having to use my car nowadays..- for instance if it's raining or if I have to pick somebody up..
C Farrugia
Sep 28th 2012, 11:53
How about enforcing car pooling? It works in countries that are far bigger than Malta. Let alone here where everywhere is close! We are always talking about the need reduce pollution but never do anything about it when it comes to use of cars. Every day of the week cars starting with particular number plates should be banned from the roads. Most families have more than one car nowadays so car pooling can be used even within the family. And people living in the same neighbourhood can also carpool if the are going in the same direction. In this country we have been spoilt rotten for years.
Paul Sullivan
Sep 28th 2012, 11:53
Drive the children to a main private bus/coach depot instead of taking them directly to school, say Luxol grounds, Marsa car park and other central areas. From there the coaches/minivans of the different schools will be waiting for the children who should be there by a set time and subsequently driven directly to their respective schools.
Transport fees should be cheaper because the coaches/minivans do not have to pick up the children practically door by door, at times through narrow or busy roads;. It would be one straight trip from the depot up to the school;
Traffic is reduced because the parents are not driving directly to the school - imagine 30 children, 30 cars all heading to the same school;
:
Philip Bonello
Sep 28th 2012, 11:48
1 Public transport should be even cheaper to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and use the buses. In the rush hour most cars stuck in the traffic jams carry only one passenger, namely the driver.
2. Schools should be staggered according to their level (Primary, Secondary and Post-Sec) and also from the timings of the adult workforce.
3. Colleges should have their own school buses to collect the children and transport them to school. (These same buses can also be used for school outings) This would decrease the load on the contractors and make for more sane driving.
4. Schools need to have the necessary set-up to cater for those children who arrive early to school or leave late because of their parents' work schedule, maybe even at a nominal charge.
Liz WallikerG
Sep 28th 2012, 11:40
This happens everywhere. I used to live in Jersey which proportionate to size is just as over populated and congested. You honestly never see road rage or real congestion there as everyone, EVERYONE, takes it in turns at junctions when traffic is crawling (no police required) which means yes it's a bit slow but it moves. A lot of the problem here is complete lack of driving courtesy by blocking junctions, hatches etc and lack of awareness and anticipation
William Attard McCarthy
Sep 28th 2012, 12:12
Spot on!
Gordon Cook
Sep 28th 2012, 12:32
You are soooooo right. traffic would certainly flow more smoothly if drivers weren't so selfish.
Arsenio Ellul
Sep 28th 2012, 11:38
I was trying to get my son to use arriva for school, but they are so unpredictable, I opted again for the minibus, although it costs around 460euro per annum.
The main problem in traffic in Malta is the huge ammount of roundabouts. Another problem in H'Attard is where there is a bottleneck from Rabat plus the slowest speed camera in the world.
Kevin Mizzi
Sep 28th 2012, 11:36
And what about providing good incentives to low CC motorcycles/scooters? 50CC scooters are driven by 15 year olds in Italy...all they require is to learn the highway code and pass the theory driving test. Otherwise, it's like driving a bicycle...with automatic transmission and all of today's technology. Much better than how in Malta, many are opting to fit petrol engines on mountain bikes!
And please don't burden low CC scooters with high insurance costs + road licence, registration taxes, etc.
This might also ease parking problems.
G G Debono
Sep 28th 2012, 11:34
First of all there is the long term view – --- Malta is starting to experience the effects of “zoning”.
Zoning refers to the concentration of facilities far away from where people live with the result that separating out retail, living,schooling and working into distinct and separate zones creates enclaves so that people need a car to shop,to go to school, to go for entertainment etc. In other words: we are putting distance between where people live and go for shopping, entertainment and so on and becoming ever more reliant on cars and now we have the results :
“Zoning” has killed the city street and destroyed urban and depersonalized street life and robbed it of its vibrancy.
The implication here is that it is counter-intuitive to concentrate activities into one place – as shopping areas, supermarkets etc – especially out of town. One could also argue that it is wrong to build schools away from residential areas and aim at having primary and, as far as possible, secondary schools as near as possible to residential areas.
As to actual transport, as usual, we can only think is terms of (motor) cars/buses and nothing else! Our view is so one-dimensional.
40% of Danish children bike it to school and 36% of adults ride a bike to work. Other children use tram/train/bus. Many cycle to the station and catch the train etc etc . – so that takes off a huge traffic load. The respective figures in Malta are virtually zero – so more traffic.
It would be wrong to leave things as they are. The trouble is that, through wanting to hog the road, motorists have kept bicycles off the road. If more bike were used, then there’d be less traffic.
Under present circumstances in Malta neither children nor adults cycle because they are so endangered by the hazardous conditions in our roads. Very few families own a bicycle, parents do not buy bicycles for children and discourage them from ) cycling - or forbid them outright to cycle.
It is as much a question of child health as safety - - - - As things now stand, Maltese children miss out on cycling – a wholesome physical activity - They develop a passive attitude to mobility because they grow up conditioned to car-dependency. Undue car dependency is probably also a contributory factor to the prevalence of overweight and obesity among youths in Malta - the highest prevalence in Europe - with 25% being pre-obese or obese, 8% being frankly obese. Only 26 % of Maltese children are physically active, one of the lowest figures among the 32 countries surveyed. Hours spent watching television are also among the highest; nearly half (42.7%) of children watch television for three or more hours during the average weekday. Family outings on bicycles or children cycling to nearby schools are unheard of; typically families go out for the Sunday ‘drive’ in the family car. Lack of road experience from cycling at a young age might also contribute to lack of road awareness and a tendency to drive irresponsibly when these children get a driving license.
So, if we don’t look at the matter holistically & do everything to decrese motor dependency something , the traffic will increase and increase, and our children will get fatter and fatter….
So we must aim to build schools (and supermarkets, health centres etc ) near to where people live and motorists must realise that they are making matters worse by making cycling impossible. If a good proportion of kids could ride to school then that would mean correspondingly less motor traffic.---- but we'll never grow up - we are addicted to fuel and will remain so till it runs out. ..
M T Mizzi
Sep 28th 2012, 11:29
A bridge next to MCAST Paola will be a great idea. Traffic is being jammed here because the lights are always on red.
paul camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 11:58
why not rent a helicopter that is the best solution!!!!
Paul Azzopardi
Sep 28th 2012, 17:52
The first thing to do is that the government issues an order for all schools. As from the 1st Ocober school starts and finishs 1 hour later. And ignore the MUT. After all why are these privilaged workers have to finish work at 1:30 or 2:30. Civil servants finish later. Private offices , shops, nurses they all finish later. The system will then be tested and if required starting times will also be staggered. All schools will have an orginized transport. Parents will be allowed to take their own children against a permission paying 300 euros yearly for such permission.
Charles Cremona
Sep 28th 2012, 11:28
There is simply too many cars on this tiny island, if nothing is done to limit the number of cars on the roads there will shortly be complete logjam and it would be pointless owning a car anyway. The solution must be to give priority to public transport by investing public money in it, and make it so good that people will increasingly make use of it, this can be paid for by increasing road and fuel tax on private cars, it will not be popular but something has to be done, building more roads is not the answer it simply makes the problem worse.
Mr Andrei Azzopardi
Sep 28th 2012, 11:24
Having 15/16/17 year old boys/girls mixed with 10/11/12 year old boys/girls in one tightly packed bus with no supervision whatsoever. The dangers and risks that our kids face are too much that it does outweigh the cost of using own car. Now lets wonder why parents choose to use their cars.
School transport MUST have a person for supervision and optionally CCTV to deter would-be offenders. These boys/girls should then be denied use of school transport which by-the-way is not a legal right.
J Farrugia
Sep 28th 2012, 11:15
TM are the problem fullstop, the roads are badly designed , they are getting norrower instead of wider, roundabouts dont have run off lanes a prime example is the road to mosta from rabat, people take a right turn into ta qali and the whole area is a bottle neck widen the road there is room, wake up send people to monitor various bottle necks and build the bloody fly overs will you and stop pussy footing around.
Kevin Mizzi
Sep 28th 2012, 11:15
And don't forget that lectures at the University of Malta are yet to start! That means some 10,000 or so more students. So next week we should expect the worse!
As a citizen from the south of Malta, I feel that the traffic light system at Marsa is out dated and cannot cope with the current situation. When that system was introduced around 15 years ago, I recall clearly it was meant to be a temporary solution to replace the old roundabout (near l-Addolorata cemetry). 15 years is not temporary!
So it's about time trying to redesign the Marsa junction please, maybe relocating those factories like Stainless Steel, BIM, etc. to gain more space for a new road structure. That as well may be entitled to EU funds.
But no one ever seems to tackle this problem. It is rarely mentioned on newspapers or discussed on TV/radio programmes.
G G Debono
Sep 28th 2012, 11:36
In other countries students cycle to University
Antonia Vella
Sep 28th 2012, 11:15
nahseb li hawn hafna maltin saru ghazzenin ukoll ax min imur skola fl-istess rahal tieghu billi jwasslu lit-tfal bil-pass meta ma tkunx xita gid lis sahha taghhom ikunu qed jaghmlu
William Attard McCarthy
Sep 28th 2012, 11:07
11. Increase road rules & ethics awareness. I bet that 75% of Malta's drivers do not know what to do at a yellow junction box. It also seems that 99% of cyclists do not know that they cannot use a zebra crossing while mounted.
12. More bookings for offences such as tailgating, lane swerving, non-usage of indicators, and for those who think that they have a right of way when coming out of a slip road (bet 75% don't know what a slip road is, either).
13. Cheaper prices on economic, small transport such as mopeds amd motorcycles.; cheaper licences too.
14. Better road markings; 80% of our road markings fade off after a couple of weeks.
15. Quality, not quantity.... The sheer stupidity of the traffic signs situation is beyond me, and anybody's, comprehension. It seems that the sign making contractor has a very good business indeed! Hundreds of signs, mos of which contradict eachother after a few metres! Signs are supposed to make our journey safer...not confuse us!
16. Drivers over 40 should be made to sit for the theory test again...yes, I am serious!
17. Flyover at Marsa junction please. A drive from tal-Barrani Rd to Marsa junction takes me half an hour, and that is unless the policeman on Paola roundabout does not divert all traffic from tal-Barrani to Garibaldi Rd (which, Mr. Officer, is rather pointless I must say. You are just making sure to create another problem by congesting the Garibaldi area too)
Mr Jamie Frendo
Sep 28th 2012, 11:43
If only everyone followed these simple rules things would be at least 10 times better than they are now, I hope that there are more people like you on our roads Mr McCarthy because as far as I am aware it's everyone for himself on the roads. Also adding to point 13, we need more designated safe parking spots for mopeds, bikes etc in busy hubs.(mhus tispicca issib il mutur imressaq jew imwaqqa min xi hanzir li jwehhel fil muturi il problema tal parking....
William Attard McCarthy
Sep 28th 2012, 12:11
Mr. Frendo, I'm afraid there seems to be quite a few like yourself or myself... When I was a mere 7yr old, my late father had bought me a Highway Code booklet when we still lived in the UK. I was fascinated by the signs and made it a point to learn as much as I could.
We came to Malta overland, and Dad used to point at roadsigns along the way and ask me what the sign is for... it was all like a game, but this simple game made sure I grew up with a respect towards road signs, manners and etiquette.
To all Dads out there: buy your kids a Highway Code booklet....it does wonders!
To all teachers out there: Do the same with your pupils....maybe holding a road sign quiz every now and then!
John Spiteri
Sep 28th 2012, 10:59
This problem happens everywhere every year. Not just in Malta. It happens when parents take their children to school. all this empty talk will not help anybody except sell newspapers and fill in editorial space!
G G Debono
Sep 28th 2012, 11:39
IT doesn't happen in every country - there are countries where it is normal for children to walk or cycle to school - or use public transport.
Louis Galea
Sep 28th 2012, 10:54
How about School starting at 9AM?
It would provide ample time for the employees to arrive at their place of work easing the traffic flow for the children to arrive at school at more decent and appropriate times.
G G Debono
Sep 28th 2012, 11:40
Another motor-only solution !
Alex Falzon
Sep 28th 2012, 10:52
The solution is very simple.... lets reduce half of our cars that have and still are polluting are roads.... to have 300,000 cars on the roads with a population 400,000 is insane....
Another proposal: Car sharing + cars should be given specific days when to be on d roads according to number plates.
Mr Clayton Mangion
Sep 28th 2012, 15:25
ohh please alex falzon ! if my car will have a specific day when its on the road ! my road tax will have to be adjusted and if not we will drive without number plates ! Thats why criminal and illegal activity is increasing cause people with your thinking.
S Scerri
Sep 28th 2012, 10:51
"students cannot be picked up more than one hour before school opens, the spokesman added." - our kids used to be picked up at 6.45 for school beginning at 8.30. That's ONE AND THREE QUARTERS OF AN HOUR before school opens. No matter how many times we reported it, nothing was ever done about it.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Sep 28th 2012, 10:50
Isn’t it about time that a new system of traffic is introduced in this congested island?
Such as an underground system, perhaps?
We can apply for EU funds for this project!
JC.
C Cassar
Sep 28th 2012, 10:57
The EU only provides funds for critical infrastructure projects and will perform detailed studies as part of its due dilligence. The first thing that will be shown in a study is that the Maltese own far too many private cars. They'll then demand that this reliance on private vehicles is reduced as a solution before even considering investing in any large transport infrastructure project.
Basically, there's no chance the EU will provide a single Euro for such a project. It would also be unsustainable in terms of maintenance costs and relative income earned.
stephen koludrovic
Sep 28th 2012, 11:04
Don't start the government on some other crazy scheme.
C Sant
Sep 28th 2012, 11:05
to be feasible, and underground system should be catering for a population of at least 2000000 inhabitants, anything less and the trip costnwould e prohibitive.
William Attard McCarthy
Sep 28th 2012, 11:11
Mr Cauchi Snr... a prominent businessman had everything planned for such a system (metro system)...but it was never given a go ahead! If it were, we would be in a much cleaner, safer and better road situation today. However, it seems that this project would have hurt the interests of the few (see: coach companies, mini us organisations, taxi drivers, and those days'bus drivers)
Mr Jamie Frendo
Sep 28th 2012, 11:24
The traffic system of such a small and congested island is not really a viable solution, If Malta had to build an underground system it would take Millions of € + say at least 10 years by the time it's buit + the stops in urbanised areas such as sliema birkirkara mosta etc would take up too much room, by the time all is in place the numbers of vehicles would increase meaning the effect vs the price of this system would not be viable. We have to work with what we have in most areas, and unfortunately these areas are the ones most effected with traffic. Maltese roads where never built to handle the number of vehicles on this island. We have approximately 320,000 vehicles registerd on this island and 3,096 kms of road, Do the maths and the result is we have got 9.6 metres of road per vehicle it's increadible and way beyond the point of fixing traffic systems.
Arsenio Ellul
Sep 28th 2012, 11:45
If an underground system project were to start in Malta, it will be ready probably around the next Millenium. Take for example roads at Luqa, Zebbug, Mellieha Bypass, these were only few kilometres long and it took years to build, and these are surface roads, imagine underground???
Gordon Cook
Sep 28th 2012, 12:37
Yes, great idea! We could jack the whole country up and that would double the land area. I am sure the EU will pay.
We could install a tram service I am sure the EU will pay
We could rebuild all roads into 6 lane motorways I am sure the EU will pay.
(Do you have any idea where the EU get's it's funds from)
paul camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 10:49
the way I see it is by having mini vans instead of coaches collecting children would only increase the number of vehicles on the road. also i do not agree with schools staggering their times it would be more reasonable for schools to start at 9 AM till 3 PM tthat way both rush hour times would be avoided.
Mr Jamie Frendo
Sep 28th 2012, 10:59
starting at 9 AM would also effect thousands of working parents! If you start work at 9 and the school starts at 9, what are you supposed to do? take your child to school to early or go to work late?
Sarah Grech (Zebbug)
Sep 28th 2012, 11:09
Dear Mr. Camilleri,
While your suggestion is valid, unfortunately it cannot be implemented.
Do not forget that most parents today have a job and by the time of 9 o'clock they have to be seated at their desk themselves.
This is a sad consequence of the hectic lives we lead.
G G Debono
Sep 28th 2012, 11:42
Another purely motor orientated solution --- it is time we approached the problem more holistically .
paul camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 11:49
send your kids by bus you dont need to be a rocket scientist to work that one out
Mr Peter Korsten
Sep 28th 2012, 10:49
Typical Maltese solutions: subsidies (like the deficit isn't high enough already), staggered starting times (like every mother stays at home and has no job), and all sorts of other nonsense, but God forbid that you start working flexible hours. Time for a wake up call: office workers can be flexible in their working hours. Schools cannot, by their very nature.
William Attard McCarthy
Sep 28th 2012, 11:12
Well said!
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Sep 28th 2012, 10:45
Young children should attend the local primary school. Older secondary school children should travel on the public buses possibly with bus stops close to schools operating at school starting and finishing times. This is how it was when I was a child and we still got an excellent education.
C Cassar
Sep 28th 2012, 10:53
Exactly. There is no excuse (unless in very exceptional circumstances) for parents to be taking their kids to school in a car. Special permits should be issued to parents who have exceptional circumstances (such as a disabled child) and need to use a car for school drop offs. All others should be fined if kids attending school are found in their cars being taken/picked up from those schools.
Tony Camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 10:59
Good points. Your posting gives a good certificate to the old bus service notwithstanding its shortcomings.
Arriva has still to catch up with the old service.
Andrea Pullicino
Sep 28th 2012, 10:44
Carpooling amongst parents should be encouraged too. Maybe the schools can help parents to get in touch with other parents in the same area. This would minimize traffic, costs, time and also give a good example to the children.
Mr Jamie Frendo
Sep 28th 2012, 10:57
Andrea your comment makes perfect sense! Carpooling in Malta is a very rare scenario, I personally use a scooter however I pass hundreds of cars stuck in jams and I am talking about big comfortable cars that would easily fit 4 people in however it's extremely rare to pass a car with more than 1 passanger in it! Things such as carpooling car parks should be introduced and allow people carpooling to use bus lanes etc Think of how much money you can save people! if you carpool and share the parking prices and youi would use half the amount of fuel to say the least! With Schools 1 parent could do the run for 4 kids one week and take it in turns! It's pretty simple and extremely cost and time efficient! I lived in the UK and it was common practice even though the distances travelled are much greater then here in Malta!
Patrick Spiteri
Sep 29th 2012, 13:08
The first sensible comment I read so far on this subject. Carpooling should be encouraged not only for school runs, but also between colleagues to /from work
Malcolm Mifsud
Sep 28th 2012, 10:42
Try Paola Hill next time. From opposite prison to the bus stop opposite Sare Marbles, I doubt it's a half kilometre in all, it takes 10-15 minutes already, not to mention the other 5-10 mins. for the remaining stretch up to the Marsa lights. And all this at just 7 a.m. in the morning.
matthew tanti
Sep 28th 2012, 10:39
it would also help if people driving from rabat through notabile/mdina road attard (near attard farm supplies) do not all try to go through the right hand side at the junction near the antiques shop, but also use the option of reaching the same destination via attard village core/parish church...qisna n-naghag ta' Bendu!
paul camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 11:12
sur tanti this would only cause more traffic which would gather near Attard Cemetary and even more frustration for cars that wish to go through San Anton and or Hal Lija
Traffic Jumping mainly causes traffic jams , people finding alternative routes and end up blocking other routes
matthew tanti
Sep 28th 2012, 12:14
mhux xorta you end up near attard cemetery from both directions: mela might as well split up the traffic, instead of everyone trying to go through the narrow road near antiques shop and congesting the road for kilometres!
C Cassar
Sep 28th 2012, 10:33
How selfish Maltese parents are and in doing so are shortening the lives of their own children. Kids who live within a distance of 3km should be made to walk. With the current situation it's no wonder that Maltese kids are the most unhealthy in Europe. This will cover most kids in Malta and those that have to travel much further should be made to attend schools nearer their homes.
Tony Camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 11:00
And then they czn go back to sleep once they are in school.
John Borg
Sep 28th 2012, 11:09
This is not always possible since even though doctors suggested that bags are not more than 10% of the kid's body weight on the other sides the schools are doing nothing about it!
Yesterday I weighed my kid's school bag and it was a whopping 5.2Kg excluding lunch. Now my kid is attending at Form 1 level. When I was his age my bag was 4Kg which was already heavy for an 11 year old, now what has changed is thanks to the teachers that have abandoned copybooks to adopt A4 files - these files, even on empty, are already weighing 1.2Kg more than the copybooks did and this is only the first week of the scholastic year. When we asked the teachers if these files can be kept at home and only take the relevant papers the answer was negative - the files has to be brought to school.
To add pain to injury one of the teachers teaching Italian demanded a full size arch file (the ones that are wide around 10cm - usually found in office archives)!
Now can you imagine a kid going on foot to school with a bag of around 6Kg (including lunch and drink) on his back? We insist that our kid does sports but we are not in favour of something that will finish up damaging his back.
Finally I would like to thank the teachers for their move - now we are spending more and the weight of a bag is around 150% more than it was before.
When will someone at the education department tackle this problem?
M T Mizzi
Sep 28th 2012, 11:21
Selfish? How dare you? Unsane of having a small child to walk 3 km in the afternoon sun after school is out and not to talk about when it drizzles and rains and where i am from you cannot cross the road because it is completely flooded for over a mile long. And do you really envision small children walking by themselves and crossing major roads,? How selfish ??? Walking is good for kids, i agree with you but under supervision, inhailing fresh air and not having to carry a 5kg back pack on their shoulders! And what about all of us parents that work? Are we going to hire child-walkers to take our kids to school??
Please, you do not know what you are talking about.
And to Mr Leo Grech responsable for transport - starting school at 9am? Are you thinking that all mothers are at home waiting for your call to take the kids to school or that our jobs start at 10am??
School transport should be provided free by each government school, at a decent time, not at 7.00 when school starts at 8.15am. Maybe schools should get their own vans or work with a reasonable company which will be available to work those hours without all this rush. Maybe some readers might offer their service and create more jobs?? hint
paul camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 11:45
@ MT MIZZI
how about mothers finding jobs with flexable times (Hint) or better yet make themselves available for their children no wonder why a lot of kids today take drugs and inhalents at an early age (double hint)
C Farrugia
Sep 28th 2012, 12:03
@ P Camilleri
Try to live on one parent's salary only especially if it is minimum wage and still paying a house loan. Most mothers would gladly stay home with their kids but cannot. And as for flexible hours, how many employers do you think allow that...
M T Mizzi
Sep 28th 2012, 12:15
@ paul camilleri.
Anqas nobsor li jkun hawn kummenti banali bhal tieghek... ghalhekk ha nirrispondik talekwale...
Issa haddimni mieghek, bil flexible hours (holma li jridu jbellawlna)
Mill inqas jien onesta, inhallas it-taxxi sa l-inqas centezmu, inlahhaq max-xoghol u mat-tfal (anki jekk frustranti) , ma nikoliex bl-allowences u l assistenza u fuq l-ahhar kumment tad-drogi, nahseb li il-veru mort il-bahar.
Ms charmaine cremona
Sep 28th 2012, 13:00
@ P Camilleri
How lovely!! And enlighten us, where are these jobs with flexible hours to be found exactly? You find work according to your qualifications and not to your home needs unfortunately;
And when d man of the family doesn't get a good pay home, there's no option except for the mother to work too or else the family wouldn't go on, especially with schooling being so expensive. Mothers do make themselves available even working mothers rest assured;
paul camilleri
Sep 29th 2012, 08:02
maybe it is because females spend to much on luxury items maybe hairdressers twice a week or maybe get your nails done and perhaps a facial are some luxury things that come to mind, if you didnt need all that makeup as if women were a walking paint shop just maybe one wage might suffice and how about the men? massive Tv probably 2 cars (1 for him and 1 for her) all the lastets gizmos in the house, bathroom suits that make the Queen of England envious probably go out to eat at resturants 2 times a week no wonder people today cant survive on a single pay!!!!
Daniela Attard
Sep 29th 2012, 20:06
Even simply buying childrens school books, uniforms and stationery is impossible... you are assuming that the father would earn a high salary which is not the case in most households some with a double income are still on less salary then others with one income!
Gilbert Busuttil
Sep 28th 2012, 10:26
Why not include the local councils in the frame as well? My daughter goes to St. Joseph Blata l-Bajda, and the situation is somewhat chaotic there since you have to double park. However, twice a week the garbage truck drives by to pick up the waste at the same time of the school ending....of all the time in the day. Then the truck gets stuck as it cannot pass and a traffic jam ensues.
On the subject of transport, personally I've seen too many van drivers driving recklessly practically every day, with one even going round a roundabout the wrong way to avoid traffic. So no thank you...not even if yo upaid me let alone paying for this service. Until the van/bus drivers civilise themselves, I'll keep using my car.
Gilbert Busuttil
Sep 28th 2012, 10:26
Why not include the local councils in the frame as well? My daughter goes to St. Joseph Blata l-Bajda, and the situation is somewhat chaotic there since you have to double park. However, twice a week the garbage truck drives by to pick up the waste at the same time of the school ending....of all the time in the day. Then the truck gets stuck as it cannot pass and a traffic jam ensues.
On the subject of transport, personally I've seen too many van drivers driving recklessly practically every day, with one even going round a roundabout the wrong way to avoid traffic. So no thank you...not even if yo upaid me let alone paying for this service. Until the van/bus drivers civilise themselves, I'll keep using my car.
C Cassar
Sep 28th 2012, 10:50
why doesn't your daughter use the bus?
Tony Camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 11:01
C Cassar because of the unreliable service by arriva or non-arriva.
Tony Camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 11:02
Not only that but like arriva no respect for traffic lights, right of way, exiting from a side street to main roads, speeding like hell etc etc
Gilbert Busuttil
Sep 28th 2012, 11:25
@C Cassar
because my daughter us a 5 year old...!!
C Cassar
Sep 28th 2012, 11:40
@Tony Camilleri:
The only reason certian buses aren't on time is because the very reason this article has been written. The sheer volume of unecessary traffic is clooging streets during rush hours and is made up of pointless parental journeys to school and back and pointless journeys made by those travelling to work who could very easily use the bus service but are too lazy and selfish to do so.
Still, at least the current situation is caused by those moaning about it, so as they say, what goes around comes around. The people complaining about the traffic issues sowed the seeds they are now reaping.
Daniela Attard
Sep 28th 2012, 18:21
C Cassar I honestly think you live in your own bubble and idealistic world where mothers don't work and are available 24/7 to their children, kids never take drugs and 5 year olds can catch buses on their own... Maybe it's about time you wake up from that unrealistic dream!
Moira Heath
Sep 28th 2012, 10:03
It would already help a lot if people observed the rules of the road, and learn some proper driving manners. Yesterday the situation was compounded by people not observing No Entry signs, as happened at Triq il-Linja Attard. Everyone, including tow trucks and big vans kept going wrong way through a road that for the past month or two has been marked as No Entry between 7 and 9am. As usual the wardens are not there when you need them.
And secondly, if cars are waiting in line at the traffic lights, why is there also a cowboy or two who drives up to the top and then digs his way into the queue? It halts the other lane and makes the queue stall for longer. Everyone needs to get to their destination, no one just sits in traffic for the fun of it.
We are guilty of our own shortcomings. If we were a bit more civilised, half of these problems would not exist.
paul camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 11:20
the area you mentioned has heavy traffic because cars comming from zebbug and Mriehel area would turn around AFS, and then to further complicate matters cross over to the little side road. now if this traffic was diverted further up to where the petrol sation is and turn off at the roundabout then traffic would flow easier.
Moira Heath
Sep 28th 2012, 11:37
The area I'm mentioning is Old Railway Track, at the bottom of the road from the M4 complex, nowhere near Afs. The time-based one-way system in that road worked perfectly well these past couple of months until yesterday when everyone decided to flout the law. Then you get to the traffic lights near Corinthia and you can start making bets on how many cars driving on the right lane going up the road will eventually push their way to the left lane. It's infuriating. No wonder we have road rage in this country.
Mr Ernest Vella
Sep 28th 2012, 09:27
Forsi l-problema qeghda wkoll ghax ftit skejjel godda nfethu fit-Tramuntana ta' Malta u c-centru ta' Malta sar wisq mimli!!!
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