Thursday 21 June, yet another of those customary accidents occurred on this black spot on the notorious St. Andrews Road.
Perhaps Transport Malta (TM) could take early action to some better and more acceptable traffic management in this part of Swieqi!
It is all about the habit of vehicles coming from the direction of the former FORUM Hotel towards St Julian’s, and which need to enter into Swieqi.
There is a clear sign opposite the now-closed Jessie’s Bar indicating the way vehicles should correctly enter the town of Swieqi; but few do though, as the majority, the very vast majority, very wrongly turn off the main St Andrews Road opposite the Arriva Bus Stop, by the “Arriva Park & Ride” traffic lights. Black spots on the highly used St Andrew's Road in Swieqi are many, but this one appears to have been missed by the authorities.
Accidents occur here regularly, and these are to be expected, for obvious reasons. It is incredible that such traffic management should have been permitted by the authorities in the first place!
Double lines should be installed immediately at this black spot (opposite the bus stop) of St Andrew’s Road, thus not permitting traffic to cross this main artery and enter Triq il-Qasam from here. The custom of drivers crossing this dangerous artery is against all highway regulations and must also be against local road rules. It is exceptionally wrong, and very, very dangerous. But that is what most drivers entering Swieqi do – it has become customary! But it is not the right way to enter this town.
As indicated earlier, with the present set-up in place, entrance to Swieqi should be by the traffic lights opposite the former Jessie's Bar. That is certainly how a visitor driving his vehicle into Swieqi would go; but not those who follow the ‘customary’ way – these do it the dangerous way. Doesn’t anyone seem to find fault in this?! Why did the same authorities (Transport Malta) place ‘continuous double lines’ on the same St Andrews Road, but further down, for traffic also coming from the former “Forum Hotel” NOT to break off and turn into Triq id-Dris? Besides the double lines, there is also a “NO TURN RIGHT” sign on the pavement at this point.
Two weights, two measures!
■ A.E. Camilleri
Swieqi