Don’t blame the roads, blame Arriva
So when Arriva buses first made it to Malta (calm down with the cheering fellas), amidst all the no-shows, impractical new routes and clueless drivers, I was one of the few to say that everyone should calm the hell down and give them a chance.
Let’s face it, every new system is bound to have some teething problems, right? So – despite a rather unhappy incident when I practically had to walk from Valletta to Attard because my car was at the mechanic’s and Bus Number 106 was nowhere to be seen after a couple of hours – I put on my smiley face and continued being nice about the new buses.
Fast-forward a year or so later and boy, do I have egg on my face. Even with the best will in the world, it’s impossible not to call the bus service an unmitigated disaster. The service is expensive; trying to follow a time-table is like playing Russian roulette; and – to cap it all – they are a menace on the road.
Because no, despite what some of you are claiming, today’s three bus pile-up in Floriana is not attributable to misfortune. Or to wet roads. It is attributable to the fact that the majority of bus drivers drive as though they somehow woke up and found themselves on Autodromo in Monza.
Yes, I’m generalising. Deal with it. It’s based on the evidence I see on the road every single day.
Only, of course, the Maltese roads couldn’t get any further from the Monza track if they tried. Which is why, when a bus driver decides that hey, taking on that right angle turn at 50mph is a good idea, disasters tend to happen.
It also explains why when two bus drivers decide that racing each other on the Msida promenade – effectively blocking both lanes – is also a good idea, pile ups tend to happen on their tail.
This also explains the regular trading of insults (not to mention car parts) when bus drivers decide to step on the gas pedal when someone is attempting to overtake them from the fast lane.
All this is great fun to witness, of course. Everyone loves a good (metaphorical) punching bag and Arriva drivers fit the punching bag profile like no other. Yes, it’s all fun and games until the accident quotas start building up.
The first few accidents were rather hilarious in nature, with bendy buses jammed at awkward angles and the like. Today’s pile-up, on the other hand, showed us that there’s nothing funny about the shameful driving etiquette that the collective fleet tends to exhibit. To use a colloquialism, they are ‘savages on the road’.
And while we have a good snigger at the memes, maybe it’s time for the bosses at Arriva to start taking their responsibilities a bit more seriously. A couple more accidents like these, and a beautifully-wrapped manslaughter suit might just be round the corner. Heavens forbid.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
14 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Maurice Cini
Oct 26th 2012, 14:52
ARRIVA IS A TOTAL DISASTER!!!
CAN someone be responsible to tell the public why Arriva is not sticking to its time schedule for departures from Valletta bus station.This is affecting ALL the times that Arriva had posted on bus stops. Where are Transport Malta Officials to check about these daily shortcomings that has been happening since day one? Where are the bus dispatchers? Traffic chaos!!
Joseph Barbara
Oct 27th 2012, 00:16
This is Malta and everything goes. Seems Austin Gatt's ministry is not responsible, MTA is not responsible, Arriva is not responsible - makes you wonder who is while people are suffering even after one and a half years of "buzullotti" by all departments.
C Muscat
Oct 25th 2012, 13:32
Arriva might be the eye opener.
Yesterday it was very clear what kind of service these are giving us and also what we are paying that is so many millions of tax money.. It is a shame if one can get embarassed by anything so serious so grave..
Gonzi give us a break and get down under..
M Mamo
Oct 25th 2012, 12:08
Another thing where we disagree is the price - for some it might be expensive yes, but how many of you shared your relatives' tickets some day or another? my day consists of these journeys:
Home - uni - home and then some outing in the evening, for me its cheaper
M Mamo
Oct 25th 2012, 12:06
Whilst agreeing with may of your points, I disagree with putting all the blame on drivers ... true some of the accidents happen because of arrogance, maybe the majority, but many drivers ended up getting their bus licence after a week's training, mainly because of the many drivers who quit Arriva along the months, it was common during Summer to see buses full of learning drivers.
Richard Hubbard
Oct 25th 2012, 11:45
I have to agree that the standard of driving is disgraceful, recently i was on a bus where the driver continuosly braked late for a stop and catapaulted standing passengers froward in a domino effect, I would suggest bringing back some of the overseas drivers to show the local ones how to drive these buses safely and how to be polite, the vehicles themselves are fine.
Ivan Visanich
Oct 25th 2012, 11:37
2 main problems with the buses themselves apart from the hash in time tables etc etc Arriva brought .. The buses couldn't be any worse,I mean since when do China do any decent product be it a toy to a vehicle and second the drivers are useless , worse than useless , u don't see a single bus without a single piece missing or undented , buses are not their property so they don't give a damn ...
Richard Hubbard
Oct 25th 2012, 11:51
What a load of cobblers, China is the worlds largest manufacturer these days and a large ammount of their products are fine including the buses as they meet european safety regulations , the drivers however need a lot more training and need to have their phones taken away while on duty, the general standard of driving in malta is terrible and would not be tolerated in other european countries.
Jon Vercellono
Oct 25th 2012, 08:52
Ms Depares, I hope you see fit to comment on the disastrous state of driving of privately owned vehicles as well - they are not only a menace to the roads, but to pedestrians, as well as to Arriva drivers. Your blog is an ideal forum to call for a coordinated and consolidated national transportation (all modal) framework.
Richard Hubbard
Oct 25th 2012, 11:55
Well said JON I have been driving here in Malta for 25 years and have been on the end of some of the driving here including the impatience, if you leave a safety gap between you and the next car some idiot will try to fill it with his/her car, people on the phone and women doing their makeup while driving, a recipe for disaster.
Malcolm Alden
Oct 26th 2012, 09:53
Too true. I find it hilarious that I am hooted at or yelled at by careless drivers for following road rules and ''being in their way''. However, the best thing I've experienced is a Bus which was going the wrong way around a round about to enter the PaceVille terminus, ended up face to face with a private vehicle, and started shouting and hooting at the person for being in his way. Incredible.
Dave Alan Caruana
Oct 24th 2012, 18:36
I'm sure the new buses have Stability Control, which means that unless pushed beyond the limits, the vehicle would try to correct its course in case of a skid. http://youtu.be/Y2uXzp2HzKg is a very informative video about the subject (of ESP). The extent of the damage indicates that the vehicle was travelling at quite some speed when the accident occurred.
Matthew Scerri
Oct 24th 2012, 20:25
I don't think ESP made it's way to China just yet. :)
Jeremy Darmenia
Oct 25th 2012, 09:42
That tech (which i doubt they have), works only well when for starters you have the right tyres for Maltese or better yet European roads, if the tyres came straight from china with the buses, they very much use the wrong compound in there tyres, which is ful of nylon, hence when it rains, they are literally all out of control. After 16mths of service, they havent figured it out but.
Please choose the reason of your report below: