Concerns were raised over unclear markings on the Coast Road yesterday after the second crash in as many days along a newly reopened stretch.

The head-on collision occurred at about 10.30am when a woman, 29, was driving towards Buġibba and a Canadian couple in a rental car were heading in the opposite direction towards St Julian’s.

The woman was slightly hurt and her car extensively damaged, but the couple were uninjured.

The crash on the Coast Road yesterday that left a woman injured and her car extensively damaged. Photo: Malta Police Force

A similar collision occurred on Sunday afternoon, although it did not result in any injuries.

While the cause of the accidents is unknown, several motorists yesterday expressed confusion over the fact that a portion of the road has been marked with a broken white line, which indicates that overtaking is permitted.

But the road is currently designated as two-way, with signs indicating that no overtaking is allowed.

A Transport Malta spokesman told this newspaper that the road markings were drawn up in view of how the road would operate once fully opened later this year.

The spokesman said two kinds of signs were currently in place to make the situation clear and additional signs would be installed on certain parts of the road.

In a statement issued yesterday, the transport authority again appealed for drivers to observe traffic signs.

Road instructions should always be immediately clear

“Let us remind drivers that the speed limit on this road is 40 km/h, that the road is two-way in various sections and no overtaking is allowed in any section of the road,” it said.

“Transport Malta is augmenting the road’s safety with signs and other measures; it is important that they are observed.”

Traffic expert Joe Micallef Stafrace said, however, that road markings should always be effective from the day they appear.

He gave the example of signs being covered up or marked with a cross until the day they came into effect.

“Road instructions should always be immediately clear,” he said. “Motorists often don’t have time to stop and think, so they shouldn’t have to make any difficult decisions while driving.”

Yesterday, the damage to the vehicles was so extensive that members of the Civil Protection Department had to cut through the wreckage to get to the woman to safety.

She was rushed by ambulance to hospital, where her injuries were certified as minor. The two Canadians were also hospitalised but were found not to have suffered any injuries.