Driving in Malta can be chaotic at times.
Some drivers completely ignore the rules of the roads, others take unnecessary risks, such as overtaking in a single lane road while there is oncoming traffic, only slightly missing the oncoming car. At times, such risks result in injuries or worse, fatalities. Causing such an accident is not worth the risk, so these drivers need to learn to slow down.
There are also people who drive under the influence, those who speed and those who text and drive. Doing so not only endangers their life, but the lives of others.
The importance of driving safely just cannot be stressed enough.
As for motorbike riders, one cannot stress enough that risks should not be taken. There is nothing between a motorbike rider and the tarmac they are riding their motorcycle on. Taking risks is just not worth it.
Being cautious on the road will save lives. For instance, be sure to keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, don’t rush out of a side road without properly checking for oncoming traffic, don’t speed to beat the traffic light, don’t zig-zag overtaking wildly, do follow the rules of the road. All it takes is one mistake and you could ruin your life or someone else’s.
There are other factors which one also needs to take into consideration when speaking about road safety.
There are a number of issues which put pedestrians in danger.
First of all, there are areas in Malta where the pavements are far too narrow, forcing people to walk in the road. This in itself poses a danger for them, especially if there is a blind corner turn for vehicles. There are many pavements that are not wide enough for people with mobility issues or a pushchair to use, or are so unlevelled it’s like walking on a moonscape, where people, especially the elderly, risk injuring themselves and so choose to walk on the road instead.
At other times, pavements might be of sufficient width, but would have piled up rubbish, a badly placed street light pole in the centre, or tables and chairs which force pedestrians off the pavement and into the road. These cause risks. Now there are some very narrow roads, and in some cases nothing can be done, but in others better organisation and planning could help improve the situation.
Then there are certain zebra crossings which could be better placed. There are roundabouts in Malta with zebra crossings placed right on each exit. This means that while a driver is looking right to see when there is the opportunity to enter the roundabout and want to take the first exit, they do so and are immediately met with a zebra crossing. A split second distraction by the driver could be dangerous for the pedestrians crossing. Perhaps such zebra crossings could be placed a little further back in order to reduce the risk of a driver paying too much attention to the traffic coming from the right, and not enough to what’s happening on the exit.
Each week we hear of a number of traffic accidents on our roads. Let’s try to reduce them.