In its efforts to shift responsibility from its own shoulders on to drivers, Transport Malta has introduced a new plate to accompany a warning traffic sign concerning pedestrians on the road in Triq il-Linja (Old Railway Track), Attard.

The new plate warns drivers about a "pedestrian priority strip", where the red painted strip on the road is hardly visible!

Transport Malta might wish to indicate where in the Highway Code or the Motor Vehicle Regulations we can find such a plate! The Minister for Transport and the chairman of Transport Malta are invited to walk along this "strip" where they have "priority" and let us know how safe they feel, particularly when walking with their back to the traffic.

According to Section 17 of the Highway Code, "Where no sidewalks or pavements are provided, or where these are inadequate, walk on the right of the road facing traffic."

This is only possible at the narrow section of Triq il-Linja in Attard, when walking in one direction. If a pedestrian is walking in the direction of the former railway station, he/she can only walk on the left of the road giving his back to traffic, unless he/she is expected to walk backwards!

There used to be a narrow pavement for pedestrians in this section of this narrow road, but Transport Malta decided to remove the pavement against the better judgement of the Attard Local Council.

It is not enough for Transport Malta to be creative and to introduce new plates. While drivers need to be on the lookout for pedestrians on the road, ultimately it is Transport Malta's own decision to put such pedestrians on the road by removing the pavement.

The longer Transport Malta takes to reinstate the pavement, the higher the chances that a serious accident takes place. It would be useless for Transport Malta to point at the traffic sign. The damage would have been done, and it is partly responsible for the consequences.

To err is human, but to persist is diabolical. Transport Malta cannot expect to have the cake and eat it too. The sooner it rebuilds the narrow pavement at Triq il-Linja, the better it will be for all concerned.

Pedestrians have a right to expect protection from Transport Malta, unless the latter is prepared to ban pedestrians from this narrow stretch of road. Pedestrians are road users, and they should be given priority not on traffic plates but on the physical structure of the road itself. 

Section 12 of the Highway Code states: "Hardly any accidents take place that are not caused or contributed to, directly or indirectly, by lack of road courtesy."

In this particular case, if a serious accident takes place, it would have partly been caused by Transport Malta's own action - the removal of a narrow pavement.

 

Alfred A. Farrugia

Malta Automobile Club