Over the years, the introduction of traffic lights in various localities has undoubtedly contributed to a better flow of traffic and, more importantly, to more road safety for both drivers and pedestrians, especially at some of the junctions on arterial roads in which cars have to cross the path of other cars travelling at a certain speed.

There are a number of junctions where the safety of both drivers and pedestrians could be improved a little more, if the traffic lights could have more clarity by introducing arrow lights. For those drivers who use these particular roads every day, such improvements are not likely to make much difference because they are accustomed to these junctions.

However, other drivers who do not use these roads every day, and visitors to Malta who rent cars for a couple of days, might find these improvements of certain significance, and could even prevent accidents.

Two junctions that could be taken as an example are the ones at the end of the Mriehel Bypass, and the one at Triq l-Imdina (Notabile Road) from Qormi to Attard. One is the junction where the Mriehel Bypass meets Triq l-Imdina, near the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA); the other is the junction from Triq l-Imdina leading to Vjal De Paule towards San Anton Gardens.

In these junctions there are two sets of traffic lights. One set directs traffic that proceeds straight on, while the other set directs traffic that needs to make a right turn, if it is coming from Qormi.

The problem with these two sets is that the lights in the middle of the road, or on the same traffic island, could show red and green at the same time, and because they are ambiguous, they may give rise to confusion, and possibly road accidents. One can of course look to the left, or to the right, to identify to which set the red or green lights refer.

This situation could improve substantially if red arrows are introduced for the lane of traffic that wants to make a turn. Red arrows can clearly show in which direction the traffic flow is prohibited to turn for brief periods of time. Such red arrows, which could be complemented by amber and green arrows, remove the need for drivers to have to think while driving because they are self-explanatory. Green arrows clearly show when it is safe to make the turn.

The authorities concerned might wish to consider whether the introduction of red arrows in traffic lights at certain junctions would be appropriate. In the junctions mentioned above, the red arrows will have to point to the right, and they need to be to the right of the main lights, unlike the photos shown here where traffic flows on the other side of the road – differently from Malta.

There will be times, of course, where the traffic lights are green allowing the main traffic to proceed straight on, while the red arrow will be on prohibiting other traffic to make a turn. This is not shown in the photos below because this is one of the main rules of traffic.

Alfred A. Farrugia