TM says back-to-school traffic up by only 2%
Six times as many coaches are on the roads on school days. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
School runs only account for a two per cent increase in car-based traffic, according to Transport Malta.
But there are nearly six times more coaches on the road during school days, “enhancing the perception that the roads are more congested”.
The authority was commenting on the complaints about back-to-school traffic that characterise the end of September each year.
The Times readers recently contributed to a list of proposals to reduce traffic, many focusing on the need to encourage more use of school transport.
In a reaction, Transport Malta referred to the results of the extensive National Household Travel Survey carried out in May 2010.
The survey found that students use greener modes to travel to school than for the rest of their journeys.
In fact, students usually travel by car 76.2 per cent of the time, using buses only 14.5 per cent of the time.
During school days, however, 40 per cent of students travel by car compared to 55.8 per cent who use public or school-organised transport.
“In total, the actual increase in car-based traffic due to the back-to-school factor is only 2.03 per cent during the peak hour,” Transport Malta concluded.
However, it noted that one must also consider that most school trips made by car are longer than 2.5 kilometres, a problem largely due to the dispersed catchment areas of many schools.
“Therefore, the two per cent increase in car-based traffic has a higher effect since the distance travelled is generally higher. This needs to be addressed by better use of collective transport.”
Meanwhile, the trips on foot amount to 5.3 per cent while cycling is negligible.
Transport Malta said it was tackling the problem by supporting the police in peak hours to direct the flow of traffic efficiently and by increasing road capacity through the construction of new roads and widening of existing ones.
However, due to Malta’s limitations and the fact that traffic tends to increase in proportion to the infrastructure provided, it considers traffic management “more important” in producing long-term results.
Therefore, Transport Malta is also implementing the EU-funded Modus project, which aims to achieve “a modal shift”.
“This will include linking of adaptive traffic light junctions coordinated together via a traffic control centre, introducing CCTV at critical parts of key nodes on the network, better information to public using real time variable message signs and real time traffic bulletins.”
The project also includes introducing a number of bus lanes and other bus priority measures to improve the journey time and reliability of buses caught up in traffic.
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Joanne Vella
Oct 3rd 2012, 09:57
Can Transport Malta kindly confirm the age groups of these students. I'm really interested to know how children from KINDERGARTENs, PLAYSCHOOLs and PRIMARY SCHOOLs [both from state and independent schools] are managing to travel using greener methods! Are they running or cycling? I doubt it.
I'm sorry but Transport Malta has some SAMPLING BIAS in their surveys!
Pierre Vella
Oct 3rd 2012, 08:11
Good Morning, left home Marsascala at 6:05am arrived Valletta 7:08am. Traffic Management plus driver discipline especially at roundabouts non existent. TM claim 2% increase, who ever came up with this assessment definitely did it at 2:00 am
Franco Abela
Oct 3rd 2012, 07:48
2 SUGGESTIONS FROM MY END...
1) INSTALL SOME KIND OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT AIRPORT ROUNDABOUT..... WE SPEND 30 MINS IN THE TUNNEL
2) TRAIN POLICE AND ADT OFFICERS IN CORRECT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. JUST STANDING TALL STARING AT CARS IS JUST MAKING THINGS WORSE!
Godwin Borg
Oct 3rd 2012, 09:00
I agree with your comment, since I can assure you that no such training is given to the police.
Mr Zeppi Borg
Oct 2nd 2012, 23:27
2 Weeks ago: 20 Minutes
Today: 1 Hour
Traffic Increased by 60% (simple maths)
If their is a vacancy at TM I will only charge you Euro 7 per Hour, I would get better results.....
Dan Saliba
Oct 3rd 2012, 09:00
I agree that traffic has increased tremendously but I need to correct your maths:
20mins = 100%
60mins = ?
60/20 x 100 = 300%
Mr Steve Miles
Oct 2nd 2012, 23:18
How is TM reaching these figures? At what times are they calculating traffic figures?
I drive from Mosta to Gzira every morning via B'Kara bypass leaving home at 7:15a.m. This drive takes me 15 minutes during the summer when children are on holidays. Once school starts this same drive takes me almost 1 hour. Today (2nd Oct) I took 55 minutes to arrive. It took me 20 minutes just to get from the roundabout near Kinds showroom to the Lija roundabout. There was bumper to bumper traffic and there were no collisions or stopped cars blocking the road, this was just due to the high volume of commuters.
These are the facts. I urge you TM to do this same drive with me tomorrow and then re issue your statement.
Jonathan Camilleri
Oct 2nd 2012, 23:11
This might mean that students (or their drivers) think that public transport sucks at having them transported on time to the lesson if they were considering the option of the bendy bus. Alternatively they might have part-time commitments and require the use of the car.
D. Caruana
Oct 2nd 2012, 22:22
i wonder who did the calculations - they / he / she should hand in their / his / her resignation tomorrow morning! they clearly haven't been on the roads to experience what us commuters face every single morning! getting to work is a nightmare!
Doris Farrugia
Oct 2nd 2012, 21:57
This morning boarded the bus from Gudja at 6.50am and arrived at Mater Dei Hospital at 8.30am.It seems that the traffic is being jammed everyday near St.Martins school.Something must be done in such a sensitive area near our main hospital.A girl near me lost her first lecture at Mater Dei and I was late for my appointment.
Mark Saliba
Oct 2nd 2012, 21:51
So our roads have a spare capacity of 2%? What will happen when it rains on a school day? Will TM please start planning for the future and focus on the notorious bottlenecks we have.
Peter Shaw
Oct 2nd 2012, 21:49
I think TM made a typo - it should be 200% :))
Colin Cassar
Oct 2nd 2012, 21:49
Gaffe of the day!
What a waste of taxpayer’s money! . . . No wonder this overall mess on our roads!
Mario Bruno
Oct 2nd 2012, 20:39
This morning from Sta.Lucia to Imriehel it took me exactly 1 hour. I left at 8am and arrived at 9am! Traffic congestion began at the upper part of Garibaldi street and all the way to Imriehel.
Saviour Sam Agius
Oct 2nd 2012, 21:58
It took me less than 20mins from Ħal Tarxien to University by bicycle. 5 of those 20mins were spent waiting for the lights to turn green near Addolorata.
mark borg
Oct 2nd 2012, 20:26
not even Dr.Gonzi, has the nerve to come up with such a tall story.
James Vella
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:56
Is this a joke ??
Are these people serious ??
Josef Schembri
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:56
2 % ???? is that a result of a pro / expert?? some experts we got...........
Yosef Scerri
Oct 3rd 2012, 06:34
accourding to my calculations its not 2% but 3% (-;
Paul Caruana
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:53
Whatever....it cannot be a coincidence that peak morning traffic goes to hell once schools reopen!
K Vella
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:52
Is it 1st April already? No seriously. What mode of transport do TM use to go to work? teletransportation?
Anthony Formosa
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:47
I think TM has something wrong in their figures because traffic did not increase by only 2%. I suggest TM to revise their figures in a month;s time when 1st & 2nd Nov are school holidays. They should count the cars the two days before and compare with these school holidays.
Philip Grech
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:45
OK so traffic increased by 2%. If that is correct, then there is something terribly wrong with traffic management. TM can't even come up with a good excuse. Either TM is lying about the 2% or they are unable to manage traffic.
Louis Saliba
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:14
When schools were closed during the Summer holidays, traffic jams between the Three Cities and Valletta during the morning rush period were largely confined to the central Paola area. Since schools started late last month, the pile-ups start near the Drydocks (sometimes even before the tunnel), right up to the roundabout near the Addolorata Cemetery.
One possible explanation for the figure of 2% traffic increase given is that Mohammed Saeef al-Sahhaf (Baghdad Bob), formerly Information Minister in Iraq under the Saddam Hussein Regime, and currently reported to be living in the United Arab Emirates with his family, is acting as a Consultant for Transport Malta. Or perhaps the TM Officials responsible for the utterly unbelievable statistics we are being regaled with since the beginning of the Arriva fiasco have been trained by him.
Peter Murray
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:10
How does 2% actually equate in actual figures /numbers of vehicles?
Richard Ellul
Oct 2nd 2012, 18:15
Good one David Pace. I want to add that four stroke motor cycles up to 250cc should be free of import and any other taxes; yearly licences should be reduces to €1 and insurance subsidised. This will reduce the car traffic however increases the motor cycle traffic. I for one am thinking of buying a motor cycle. During the 70`s when the oil crises shot up fuel prices, many Maltese purchased 70-80cc motor cycles. Maybe that time has come again and maybe the government (Transport Malta) should take this hint.
John Cassar
Oct 2nd 2012, 18:15
2%? Where do these people live exactly?
Maurice Cini
Oct 2nd 2012, 18:13
TM MUST give the PUBLIC a RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM With GUARATEED TIMES OF DEPARTURE and ARRIVALS. OTHERWISE the problem of Traffic in Malta will only escalate!! TM PLEASE NOTE.
Bernard Manduca
Oct 2nd 2012, 17:34
Today's report about 2% increase in traffic simply proves one thing I have felt for a long time. Traffic management is run by professionally qualified, salaried, office bound theorists with absolutely no idea what the country needs. All they ever postulate is reduced speed limits and ridiculously timed traffic lights. So inept and backward looking it is incredible.
The root cause of problems is being missed, yet is so simple to identify. Kappara roundabout as a case in point, is affected by tailbacks caused by pupils being dropped off at the nearby school in Sliema Road. Supervise that and the roundabout can function at twice the volume, especially if ABLE traffic policemen are allowed to intervene and assist. Similar situations can easily be identified and dealt with around the country. There; that didn't take a university degree.
Also I can't see what use it is to widen streets if they still converge on the same deficient junctions we already have to make do with. We'll just get to the next bottleneck sooner. Sort out the junctions - that would be productive.
Another good move would be an education campaign covering correct use of lanes, positioning and signalling. The current standard is so poor that even well designed junctions would hardly improve our current situation.
Good move re a central control room fed by CCTV and supported by good men on the ground. Something I suggested aeons ago but, apparently, too far ahead of the times. Pity. In other countries they already had the bear in the air.
Joanne Falzon
Oct 2nd 2012, 17:32
To get out of mgarr you have to leave before 8am or you'll get stuck there till 9am! that road has become a nightmare!... something needs to be done!!!
David Magro
Oct 2nd 2012, 17:22
What a sense of humor !
Rose Agius
Oct 2nd 2012, 17:16
Has TM taken into consideratio all the teahers that travel to school in their car and the many parents who take and pick up their children from schhol. How on earth did TM come up with the ridculous figure of 2 % - something is very wrong somewhere.
Dennis Schembri
Oct 2nd 2012, 17:15
This morning it took me 35 minutes from Luqa to Gzira when during Summer I usually take 15 minutes.
The person that has came out with this report must be having many sweet dreams!!!!
R. Balzan
Oct 2nd 2012, 17:09
Why is it that every time TM puts out a statement or issues a press release it's almost always a load of BS. Every driver can vouch for the fact that road traffic since Monday has been much much worse than before. 2% my foot!
James Mizzi
Oct 2nd 2012, 17:02
Yet another gaffe by TM. You are so right FD. Kick Austin out!
Martin Xuereb
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:54
Ejja Regional road mela u jekk jafu joddu ma tkunx 2% imma iktar min 20% ,mux talli hekk talli tefaw xi 4 tat traffic! TM issoltu Transport Mahniex
R ferriggi
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:43
TM ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, only second after MEPA for gaffs and corrosion.
THEY HAVE BECOEM A JOKE.
I USED TO LEAVE MGARR AT 730 AND ARRIVE AT QORMI AT 8 AM.
NOW,,, I LEAVE AT 7 AND I ARRIVE AT 8 SHARP.
2 PERCENT?!?!?!
Mark Busuttil
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:38
TM is a very reliable body with a fantastic service. NOT!!
Silvio Abela
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:35
As a morning commuter during both school days and non, I do not agree. Traffic increase cannot be calculated using statistics. It must be experienced. I know people from Mellieha that take an hour to get to Floriana. My trip time increased by at least 15 minutes since schools started. Most of the time, during my trip to work, the culprits are large coaches carrying a few students.
Would it be feasible also if heavy traffic (especially large trucks with full loads) to be "banned" during certain times? I'm only asking. I know it could sound unfeasable but these lorries do create queues behind them especially in single lane roads.
As for TM building "new roads and widening of existing ones" - ask the Gozo commuters travelling on the new "wide" road
Mark Busuttil
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:32
I wonder from where they got this data!! They maybe live in a box?
Jeremy Gambin
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:27
How did the Tranpsort malta get it so right- all my trips of 30 mins are now taking 36 seconds longer (2 %) well done Transport Malta for this scientific information
Josephine Muscat
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:25
Simply - I used to drive for 10 minutes to arrive to my work destination.... Now it is taking me 50 minutes.... Simple evaluation of how much traffic density has changed in the past two weeks. Wake up TM and do something!
Jeremy Gambin
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:56
Josephine- you must have a mistake as according to TM your trip should only be 12 seconds longer- the extra traffic is only a perception
David Pace
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:21
Arriva service remains abysmal... buses 117 & 118, direct buses to Mater Dei & University are scheduled to arrive at university only every 5 min past the hour.... and leaves at the same time. Most lectures, and working schedules, medical appointments etc start on the hour. Should you use this bus you are never on time. If you want to catch the bus after a lecture which also finish on the hour, or also finish from work at Mater Dei (most finish at 7-7.15pm), you never make it. I am sure most students from Kirkop, Safi, Luqa, Imqabba, Qrendi & Zurrieq use their private cars.
TM has been occupied with the widening of roads... when the real problems are lane exchanges and some of the roundabouts. I use Council of Europe & Garibaldi Street everyday... never in my whole life did I see them congested. The only problem was when Garibaldi street joins Aldo Moro... and the problem remains the SAME! The time has come for introducing more fly-overs.
Airport roundabout between 6am & 9am is a nightmare.
The raods were widened, trees destroyed, & bicycle lanes still remain a joke.
In the past 10 years many roads were rebuilt, some were widened others not. A Bicycle lane was only introduced properly in the road leading from the airport to Hal Far.
The only solution in this small country lies in bicycle use.... if all able bodied workers, students etc make use of them, and it was safe, this country would be a heaven. There is no vision for the future & for the health of this country's population. Our children are the most obese in Europe, all because cars control this society. Using Maltese roads makes you sick, mentally and physically!
J Micallef
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:16
Guys, the best way to interpret this news item is to treat it like the Summer weather forecast, you know, the one where they tell you that the temperature is 30 degrees, but feels like 35 degrees? (in the shade, of course, even if we have no shade as TM has uprooted all the trees...).
So...in this case, the increase is 2%, but it feels like 50%. Got it?
Richard Ellul
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:11
Ask those who spend 15 minutes inside the airport tunnel breathing the black smog that some trucks and cars belch. Ask those at the Airport, Sta Lucija, Kordin roundabouts. Ask those who try to bypass the Kordin road (Mosque) by using the road behind MCAST better known as triq il-qamar for its potholes.
B Grech
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:07
this is actually funny!!
Chris Vella
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:58
try to go down vjal santa lucija and than tell me mismanegment at its best to acomodate Arriva
Peter Borg
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:58
Rubbish ! Go tell it to the marines !
J Farrugia
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:48
Hallina TM, you couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery let alone figures about traffic in Malta.
As the public who visit your offices in port de bombes what they think of you, it's a disgrace to human society that office.
J Micallef
Oct 2nd 2012, 16:17
"...piss up in a brewery..." I liked that one!
Dave Alan Caruana
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:46
is it a perception that roads are congested? a run from Sliema to Hal Far and back this morning took me almost 2 hours (6.10am - 8am) and average consumption reported by the onboard computer was 22mpg, on a car that normally averages 30mpg on this trip. I must be imagining things!
J Micallef
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:41
Are you kidding?
ONLY 2%?
Is this Transport Malta or Transport Mars?
J Gauci
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:41
if better service is given by arriva the traffic congestion would be reduced.
Bernard Pollacco
Oct 2nd 2012, 23:48
yeah right -.-
Alfredo Agius
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:40
Probably they meant 2% per child .... *sigh*
Claudia Grima
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:39
Impossible !!!! Mosta to Mater Dei this morning - 1 hour!!!! Crazy considering that it only takes me 10/15 minutes when there is no traffic!!!
John Mallia
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:35
Transport Malta statistics at its best. Shows exactly how reliable and capable TM is!
Mr Eric Camilleri
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:33
Everyone is living in another country or what???
Joe A. Borg
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:31
But then not even the finance minister is convinced of statistics!
"Economic reality in Malta was different from what was being shown by statistics, " Finance Minister Tonio Fenech
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120703/local/budget-measures-have-to-be-balanced-and-prudent-minister.427042
Who are we to believe this?
Josef George Orland
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:30
primary & secondary schools need to move by 1 hour (starting at 9am for example) - they will still finish before 5pm anyway which is the other traffic hour
Rose Agius
Oct 2nd 2012, 17:19
What about both parents who work? Where will they leave their kids until school starts? Hire a nanny?
Michael Borg
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:26
but 2% of thoushands is a lot !!! and i wonder if it s really 2 % only !
Frank Gauci
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:25
Hahaha how funny !!!! Just have a look at B'Kara, St. Paul's Bay, Iklin, St. Venera, Qormi, Zebbug and much more localities between 7.30 and 9.00am and also in the afternoon. Traffic jam everywhere!! TM - Can you specify why a trip to my work in Summer takes me 25 min and in Winter it doubles the time and in some case when it rains; only God knows when I arrive to work.
As far as I know; we were thought that Arriva was going to minimize traffic from our roads. lollll
E Schembri
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:24
Well, if doesn't require much traffic increase to cause chaos on our roads.
And this is due to the poor infrastructure and state of the roads. Just take a look at Msida circus, you have cars cris-crossing 3 lanes. The Kappara roundabout is also a stall point, and there are many others.
Their statistics prove that a 2% increase of traffic can cause chaos, so what are their plans for the future???
I hope they are working on something and not laying back enjoying the usual crisis management.
Ms Sandra Grech
Oct 2nd 2012, 20:01
It's too many cars, as you can see from the report cycling is negligible. Or walking.
SeanCarl Grech
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:23
this statistic is a JOKE
Lawrence Fenech
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:22
Best dinosaurs on the roads.
Gordon Cook
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:13
That is a complete fabrication. My journey from Zabbar to Gzira took an hour this morning. 15 -20 minutes a month ago.
Why do we have two Policemen and a TM representative stopping traffic going down to the Cemetery and forcing everyone to go to the new Airport road. It's not traffic management. It's just moving the problem.
I would consider the bus if I could possibly do the journey in less than an hour and get a seat.
William Attard McCarthy
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:59
Spot on, Mr. Cook! Exactly what I think when I'm diverted to Garibaldi Rd.... Oh, and just a little note for TM: If you seriously think that your guys standing on the pavement and looking at traffic are in any way assisting the Police with traffic management, then please think twice!
Wow! Variable road signs? Real time traffic bullettins? CCTV? Noded lights and a traffic control centre? ...these things have existed abroad since the mid 20th century!
Mr Luciano Busuttil
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:08
Tghidux cucati. Fis-sajf kont nasal Valletta fi tletin minuta. Illum indum siegha u nofs.
Nicholas Borg
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:16
La jkollna Joseph PM tibda tasal f'hames minuti, issa tara.
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:29
@Nicholas Borg Forsi f hames minuti ma naslux biss b lipjannar hazin li ghamlet TM taht dal gvern zgur l ma naslux qabel!
paul camilleri
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:33
mela ghax kulhadd imurr bil helicopter
martin brincat
Oct 2nd 2012, 19:24
Nichols Borg qabel ma jispicca Austin Gatt missu jghamel U turn biex jerga jgib lura lill tal-LINJA ghax konna hafna ahjar minn tal-lum.
C Agius
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:07
"enhancing the perception that the roads are more congested" - I don't think its an enhanced perception that the roads are more congested.. (what a lot of nice long words you've learnt TM over the comment.
Kevin Camilleri
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:05
yeah right...
Do these people start work at 10.00am on School days?
William Attard McCarthy
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:03
Left MScala at 645am this morning; got to St. Julians at 8:15am.... there is something definitely wrong in your stats, TM!
Robert Mifsud
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:02
Government departments are no longer working half days. That means the since mid-September, Private schools, church schools, governments schools, universities, mcast, 6th form students and governments departments mostly start at 8. The amount of time I spend to arrive to work in comparison to the time I took 2 weeks ago is definitely more then 2%
Mr Mike Farrugia
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:02
Why not give university students a travel voucher as part of their stipends? I would also suggest a parking fee at university. Thousands of students are buying cars as soon as they reach 18 and this is suffocating our roads.
After all, stipends were meant for the poor anyway. So if one opted not to utilise the voucher, than so be it.
K Farrugia
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:37
Why don't employers provide employees a travel voucher as part of their financial package? Most employees have a fixed 8-5 work schedule while post-secondary students' hours schedules vary considerably from day to day, many of whom are also engaged in other commitments during the day.
joe vella
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:00
all this statistic jargon is a waste of time and trying to fool the public
can tm explain why what was normally a 20minute trip has become 35-50 mins, same distance same route?
pse cut off all this hot air stuff, trying to treat us as stupid morons, what matters is what happens in practice
it would be better for these armchair computer happy wiz kidz to take a car and try to drive from birkirkara to zebbug; from mgarr to birkirkara and zejtun to birkirkara between 7.15 and 8.30 each day and then compare their cyber stats to the real world
and where is that fellow who told us that ARRIVA would be such a hip that all these traffic jams would become part of our history?! thank god we have franco hoofing down his neck!
alfred seguna
Oct 2nd 2012, 14:59
At Fleure de lys Roundabout they put Traffic Lights only 100 meters in direction to Hamrun, traffic lights only 100 meters in direction to B'Kara And traffic lights only 100 meters in direction to Rabat (not yet on)Every time that one of the the lights turn red the roundabout is blocked.This is because the traffic lights are to near the roundabout.Another thing is that many zebra crossings are put too near blind corners e.g.as you turn at Msida towards Sliema near the police station.Another example is near the War monument going towards Boffa Hospital.There are many other similar examples.
Alexander Pace Gouder.
Oct 2nd 2012, 14:59
Come on Transport Malta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Who is taking care of your statistics - Come and visit our Street where I live B"kara Rd., St.Julians (Both ways) between 7.30 and 8.45am not to mention various times in the afternoon round 14.45/15.00 and after. I do not think this street has been considered in your statistic - My Statistics and am positive - Increase in Traffic by over 25%. Traffic Jams and leading to Polution galor - Cannot even open Windows or Balcony Door.
Victor Vella
Oct 2nd 2012, 14:50
So how come it now takes me over an hour to travel from Zabbar to Mosta when during summer it doesn't take me more then 20 minutes?
what was the traffic policeman stationed near the battery shop in Marsa doing this morning? It took me 20 minutes to drive down Garibaldi road . Why was the traffic stuck at the Santa Venera tunnels. And by the way can the senior officer present at the roundabout near bathroom design please stay at home next time, with his presence traffic was jammed when usually traffic moves smoothly with just 2 policemen.
J Farrugia
Oct 2nd 2012, 14:44
The answer me this Einsteins at TM, why did it take me 45 minutes every day since school started compared to 20 without.
Do your selves a favour, lock yourselves in the closed offices at TM and stay there and leave us to go about our own business, the less we hear from TM the better.
E. Azzopardi
Oct 2nd 2012, 13:44
Traffic may be up by two percent but traffic chaos is up by hundred percent. TM please note.
You need to revise all your actions. The transport reform is not working. In fact it has failed miserably. How do you explain all those cars WITH ONE DRIVER going into Valletta in the morning and coming back at 1700 hrs?
We are not even capable of "pooling" let alone using the public transport. Very sad. We are already paying the price for this failure and as days go by the price will get higher.
R. Farrugia
Oct 2nd 2012, 12:09
Ha! These guys / gals are wasted performing statistics; The way they play around with percentages is so hilariously clever they should be working as quantity surveyors and would make really good money!
It could be correct that dedicated school transport amounts to 2% but what about students, teachers, other schools personnel and all the parents which drive their children to school!? - During summer time most of these (apart from working parents) would not be on the road during rush hours.
It's not just an impression that traffic triples when school starts!
Well, less grumbling and more feasible proposals: Wardens should halt cars in areas that do not impede traffic flow not to restrict the flow just because of one's fault (even though it's not a good spot to place yourself like hiding behind a tree, a corner). The adaptive traffic lights system would definately have a positive impact (if administered properly).
ANTHONY PAVIA
Oct 2nd 2012, 11:01
TM's statistics are as accurate as ARMS invoices.
Mr Daniel Jones
Oct 2nd 2012, 10:07
Plus the coaches and red minibuses stop wherever they please, on double yellows, blocking junctions etc adding further to congestion.
Solution? More patrols and wardens / police outside EVERY school ensuring junctions and traffic flow is not impeded.
paul camilleri
Oct 2nd 2012, 15:36
now this is the only decent comment here and is mainly the reason for most traffic congestion in towns and villages
Ms Sandra Grech
Oct 2nd 2012, 20:10
yes it would be lovely to have a warden outside my kids school at St Michael's in San Gwann, maybe then cars won't drive so fast down the road and school kids can cross the road safely. Even though there are clear signs that there is a school and traffic should slow down. You see, for government schools there is not only a warden but the road is closed during the times the kids go and leave from school. Not for private schools.
Please choose the reason of your report below: