A 79-year-old woman from Floriana was run over by a car on the new zebra crossing in Ġlormu Cassar Avenue, Valletta at 8.30 a.m. yesterday.

The woman was taken to hospital where it was found that her injuries were not life-threatening.

The car, a silver Toyota Corolla, had no visible signs of damage. However, the 39-year-old driver was left shaken, insisting he did not see the woman on the zebra crossing, which comes straight after a bend. He said he found the woman right in front of him as soon as he approached the crossing.

Motorists using this very busy road have pointed out that the crossing was hardly visible in the morning because of the sun’s glare. Moreover, the old markings of the old zebra crossing a few metres up the road, which were painted over in black, shine in the sunlight, making it look like the zebra crossing was a few metres up and not where it has been relocated. “The first thing a CID officer on the scene told me was that this new crossing was dangerous,” the driver, who preferred not to be named, said, adding that it was a blessing he was not driving faster as the result could have been fatal. The zebra crossing has attracted criticism from drivers for being so close to a bend and a bus exit. Former Transport Minister Ċensu Galea said that, as a general rule, crossings should not be very close to bends.

However, Transport Malta keeps insisting the zebra crossing is in order. “As per our previous reply, this zebra crossing, near the new bus terminus, is in full accordance with national design standards applicable for roundabouts: Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (TD 16/07 Geometric Design of Roundabouts), as required under subsidiary legislation 499.57 New Roads and Road Works Regulations. The police are responsible to investigate the case,” the transport authority said when asked about yesterday’s accident.