Update 3: Eight injured in Coast Road accident

Tony Aquilina

Oct 5th 2012, 12:00

im sure it will polish out

Kenneth Debono

Oct 4th 2012, 21:37

We do not need CCTV, or better roads. Everyone should stop blaming everything else and look at the real cause of the accidents. 99% of the times it’s the driver himself. I spend a lot of time on the road every day, and the near misses I see every day keep increasing, especially since everyone seems determined not to miss a call or the need to SMS even while at the wheel of his / her car, van, truck etc...

We need to start respecting the roads but most of all we need to respect ourselves.

Kenneth Debono

Oct 4th 2012, 21:35

We do not need CCTV, or better roads. Everyone should stop blaming everything else and look at the real cause of the accidents. 99% of the times it’s the driver himself. I spend a lot of time on the road every day, and the near misses I see every day keep increasing, especially since everyone seems determined not to miss a call or the need to SMS even while at the wheel of his / her car, van, truck etc...

We need to start respecting the roads but most of all we need to learn how to respect ourselves and the one who care about us drivers.

joe aloisio

Oct 4th 2012, 20:25

This evening i was driving back home on the same stretch of road, and a day dreaming driving was driving all along the way at a mere 30km/ and bang in the middle of the road ....frustrating every driver that was in a hurry forcing them to go on the other side of the road to overtake!!!!! these people cause accidents.....
not to mention that the narrowing of the roads scheme embarked a few year ago has clearly failed...it is not slowing down fast drviers ...just frustrating them and making them go on the side of the road to pass..... we need a strong education campaign followed by strict law enforcment .

Aaron Schembri

Oct 4th 2012, 20:15

while I would not like to enter in the merit of who was to blame for this accident I would like to ask a few questions:

Have speed cameras reduced the amount of accidents on our roads?
why are advanced driving courses not available in Malta?
why are cheap chinese tyres allowed to be sold in Malta when these fail Eu and Tuv standards?
why do so many people still insist on using their mobile phones for calling or texting when driving, and why is the law not enforced?
Why do our roads (even new ones) not drain water like roads abroad do even after a night of heavy rainfall?
why do our roads not have enough camber in them ?
why is it then in traffic some people have to change lanes so often and do so without the use of indicators and if you don't give them way they start yelling at you?
why is it that after so many years we still don't have a racetrack in malta for people to vent off during the weekend ? not everyone affords to go to sicily!

E. Azzopardi

Oct 4th 2012, 17:14

No real supervision on our roads. We should have at least 10 traffic police officers going round this little piece of rock 24/7.

Our driving is horrendous and so are many of our roads. It does not mean that once we have some kilometres of roads in good order ( definitely not to EU standards) then we abandon the rest.

Jobs are crucial and most important but this island is not only about jobs and employment.

D Borg

Oct 4th 2012, 15:21

Oh what a surprise another accident caused by careless driving. Does anybody at any age know how to drive on this island? We're they giving free drivers permits on the back of a cereal box???
Smarten up people! Speed kills, mobile phones are distracting, aggressive driving is for the track, and brains are required to operate heavy machinery.... If you can't comprehend any of this stay home or car pool.
As for the lines on the road- its not rocket science... You should know when it's safe to overpass another car..if you don't..well my friend this will be the result.

Joseph Micallef

Oct 4th 2012, 14:57

Not a new road is needed but a middle of the road barrier that one sees in all motorways abroad.

D Borg

Oct 4th 2012, 14:52

Oh what a surprise another accident caused by careless driving. Does anybody at any age know how to drive on this island? We're they giving free drivers permits on the back of a cereal box???
Smarten up people! Speed kills, mobile phones are distracting, aggressive driving is for the track, and brains are required to operate heavy machinery.... If you can't comprehend any of this stay home or car pool.
As for the lines on the road- its not rocket science... You should know when it's safe to overpass another car..if you don't..well my friend this will be the result.

William Caligari

Oct 4th 2012, 14:15

Hafna kummenti,jasal ghada u kollox itir mar-rih, kif konna
nibqghu,il-Coast Road saret it-Triq ta' l-incidenti, wiehed kull ftit
granet.
Hemm bzonn ta' CCTV tul it-Triq kollha.Mhux biss imma Board specjali
li jara,il-mod u x'fatta qed isir sewqan f'din it-tul tat-Triq kollha.
Mhux biss imma dixxiplina wahda stretta!!!!!
Hadd ma jahseb li qed naghmel riferenza ghall dan il-kaz biss,
nghaddi min din it-Triq spiss, tara sewqan titwerrec,kultant anki
min tfajliet .
Il-lum nasal sabiex nghid"kemm saret ma tiswiex il-hajja tal-bniedem"

GL Calleja

Oct 4th 2012, 14:05

Without putting the blame on anybody, take this into account: A 61 year old man driving a Corvette on this stretch of road? Well I'm sure the tourists will have a story to tell when they go back home. Please stop talking about white lines and barriers and so on, and put the blame where it belongs and that is on the reckless drivers we have all over Malta and Gozo. The police have to catch these reckless drivers and the courts will have to follow accordingly. Stiffer fines and higher insurance coverage will be a good start. I know it is hard to face the truth but those are the true facts. Stop blaming the bad roads and concentrate on the driver?

Steve Mifsud

Oct 4th 2012, 13:59

Well, I'm going to call a spade a spade......speed clearly is the main factor here, not lines, not tarmac, not the bloody tooth fairy......look at the damage, you don't rip the side off a car driving a low speeds.

Gordon Cook

Oct 4th 2012, 13:32

Sorry but I feel I must disagree with this:


Colin Attard

Today, 11:44

I fully agree with R Mallia. Contrary to what most think, the causes of most accidents are slow drivers and ignorant drivers that drive on the outside lanes of our main thoroughfares. Traffic Police and Wardens seem to seldom take any action against any of these offences.


This behaviour causes frustration not accidents. Accidents are often caused by drivers breaking the law! speeding ,overtaking when not safe, crossing double white lines and using mobile phones while driving .etc.

Mr Denis Calleja

Oct 4th 2012, 13:30

Whatever happened in this accident and who ever is to blame, a factor showing from the photos without any doubt shows over speeding.

Elvin Muscat

Oct 4th 2012, 13:15

Hundreds of people are going over to Sicily every weekend with their sports cars, the only possible place where these people could vent their speed restlessness was in Hal far, but was taken over.
Loss of money for Malta and a great danger to the rest of us.
As usual another case of no planning or lack of organisational planning without consulting the proper people.
Bravado wins a medal.

J jones

Oct 4th 2012, 13:04

Surprised not a white taxi was involved....has anyone ever seen them drive on last stretch of road towards the airport !

Claude Farrugia

Oct 4th 2012, 12:52

This particular stretch of road needs to be declared a black spot area. Cars coming from Bahar ic-Caghaq tend to start an overtaking manoeuvre as soon as they reach the top of the hill. Cars coming from the Swieqi direction will be in the process of an overtaking manoeuvre because the dip and curve in the road near the side street to High Ridge is one of the places you can overtake after the Swieqi traffic lights. On both sides the lanes are just wide enough that in the process of the overtaking your outer wheels are frequently just ON the double white lines. The problem is that from both sides the road approaches a second slight uphill tract, which is actually a blind spot because there is a brief distance where you cannot see anyone coming from the other side of the road until it is too late, especially at high speed. Some drivers do not appreciate the blindness of this particular point with respect to oncoming overtaking traffic.

Mr Alexander Azzopardi

Oct 4th 2012, 12:39

Poor tourist :( we all know who should blame ! (If its not speed than their wouldnt be such exstensively damage done to both vechiles )

George Calleja

Oct 4th 2012, 12:36

Nidhaq meta naqra certi kummenti... min iwahhal fit-triq, min fil-linji,min ghax isuqu bil-mod....imma l-veru kawza hi l-irrisponsabbilta ta certi sewwieqa li jsuqu bl-addocc b'periklu ghalihom ...u ghal sewwieqa tajbin. Kulhadd mghaggel u hadd m'ghandu pacenzja. Saret anki moda li xi sewwieqa jsuqu bid-dawl ahmar...x'jimpurathom....la jafu li mhux se jehlu xejn.

R Brincat

Oct 4th 2012, 12:36

TM should hire some of you to make a good appetizing "froga" of the Maltese roads. Yes Hon. Austin Gatt take their advice and install barriers and central strips. Who are you to decide that everyone has to drive at a snail's pace? So if there's someone who is driving at 30km/h one has to drive all the way behind him? May I inform you that 80km/h is not super sonic speed and if I want to drive NORMALLY at 80km/h (which btw is legal) and I find someone driving slowly in front of me the only thing I can do is overtake so TM is right about widening the road to a 4 lane and only then a barrier is installed in the middle of the 4 lane road and who wants to drive slowly drives on the LEFT lane and who wants to go a bit faster on the RIGHT lane. And let's make this clear that the slow lane is the one on the LEFT i.e. L E F T, LEFT.

Anthony Curmi

Oct 4th 2012, 12:14

Has anyone ever seen police patrolling the coast road? Their presence would serve as a deterrent at least until funds are found by Transport Malta for installing guard rails to replace the double white lines. I have experienced numerous would-be accidents because of irresponsible drivers overtaking and crossing over into the path of incoming traffic.

james macdonald

Oct 4th 2012, 11:52

before people make stories of the white lines, or dangerous driving etc... better to wait and find out what actually happened!!

Kevin Camilleri

Oct 4th 2012, 11:46

The issue is very very simple, we will get rid of these accidents on the coast road ONLY when a central strip . guard rail, will be installed between the lanes. People will stop overtaking and entering into the opposite lane!

laura anderson

Oct 4th 2012, 11:43

Sad for the ppl involved but i am not surprised. I have already witnessed 2 accidents at the traffic lights at st.andrews this week! Almost another because cars couldnt wait to pass and pulled out onto oncoming traffic! Tge impatience of drivers in malta is shocking.

william cauchi

Oct 4th 2012, 11:34

As some are saying, speed kills, so if we all drove as we should, then who really needs white lines.

Useless drain of public funds Mhux hekk!! Tad-dahk, jekk mhux tal-biki.

Franco Abela

Oct 4th 2012, 11:32

"As some said- double white lines might not have avoided this accident"

DREAM ON.... LINES DO NOT STOP ANYONE... BARRIERS DO!

HURRY HURRY AS THE SHIP IS LEAVING!

Daniel Vella

Oct 4th 2012, 11:31

It looks like there was a road-grip failure. There are no break marks on either side. Apart from the usual missing road-side barriers to help calculate the road limits which even in shabby neglected south Sicily roads have but not Malta.

Mandy Abela

Oct 4th 2012, 11:31

One of the main causes of traffic accidents is the mobile phone. Every day I see tons and tons of people chatting away while driving. If nobody stops them, they will continue to do so. Penalties should be harsher than just a fine.

laurent caruana

Oct 4th 2012, 11:15

The problem is not white-lines but the attitude of a lot of Wannabe-Schumachers!

Jeremy Gambin

Oct 4th 2012, 10:57

As some said- double white lines might not have avoided this accident - but they might avoid others- our road lines must be some of the worst in Europe- even when parking at night one must look carefully to see if there are no parking lines. Our priorities are wrong- a lot of money is spent on the centre strips & round abouts with nice expensive flowers, trees & lawns and then we have non existent lines as well as little road signs to help our tourists.

anthony sultana

Oct 4th 2012, 10:46

What it is happening in Malta it is because one thing,no capability, I have been complaining for a long time about the traffic lines in Gozo but all in vain.We need polititions that care about our daily maintenance, specially the roads.

bryan sullivan

Oct 4th 2012, 10:29

double white lines will never stop accidents happening. only safe driving shall. anyone driving the coast road can bear witness to countless dangerous overtaking manoeuvres irrespective of white lines or not !

Alex Falzon

Oct 4th 2012, 10:25

I agree with the paint work but does not justify the accident

Hector Buttigieg

Oct 4th 2012, 10:23

In Malta we have so much dangerous driving. We need more presence of traffic police to fine erratic drivers.

william cauchi

Oct 4th 2012, 09:54

Look well everybody at those photos,and where are the double white lines separating both carriage ways. And this on one of Malta's most dangerous roads where accidents big or small happen every day.

Or is it that you have to try to guess where they are when you are driving?

Just the cost of one road accident such as this will pay for enough road paint to cover all Malta's roads. But for the Transport Authority road paint was never that important, was it.