For a number of years now the authorities have been planting several bushes on centre strips and roundabouts that grow to about eye level of drivers in their car, effectively blocking their line of sight and, in many places, these create a significant risk.

Mrieħel bypass, in the direction of Attard, is a case in point. The bypass there curves and, at the exit towards Mrieħel, at the traffic lights, there is often a long line of cars waiting on the overtaking lane to turn towards Mrieħel. These cannot be seen by other motorists due to the plants on the central strip. Similarly, on Tal-Barrani Road, the plants on the central strip make it very difficult for drivers turning towards Għaxaq to see the cars that are coming from the opposite direction.

Apart from blocking drivers’ vision, these plants create an additional risk when their branches start growing beyond the central strip into the road, causing motorists to move further away towards the other lane in order to avoid getting their cars scratched.

Plants used to decorate central strips should be selected with more care; either use flowers that grow low on the ground or high enough that only the trunk remains at eye level.