Imagine, if you will, a highway three lanes wide on a hill. In real life, of course, two lanes would be dedicated to uphill traffic so that cars could overtake slow-moving heavy vehicles struggling up the incline. But this is a road in Gozo, so "real life" is not a factor.

Drivers going downhill have two options: straight ahead or turn left.

What sort of person, then, would allocate the central lane to traffic that needs to turn left? The answer is the sort of person (whoever it is) who is responsible for traffic in Gozo.

The road in question is the approach to the ferry terminal in Mgarr. Drivers needing access to the marina or to the seven bars and restaurants on the waterfront have to turn across the left-hand lane which is now, officially, the "ferry lane".

But as everybody knows, drivers queuing for a ferry don't leave a hair's breadth between their bumpers, for fear that somebody might jump the queue.

The result - and presumably this new traffic system was intended to be an improvement - is increased chaos.

Nobody gives way to vehicles wanting access to or to exit from the marina. And every weekend there is a log-jam.

Logic - ah, what am I saying? - would obviously suggest that the left hand lane be reserved for traffic needing to turn left and also for vehicles dropping foot passengers at the ferry and the central lane saved for those going straight ahead in the ferry queue.

One is forced to the conclusion that the road-planners for Gozo either don't have a car or perhaps simply that they never use the ferry.