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WATCH: Empty Promises And Constant Insults – Drivers Speed Through One-Way Road In Tarxien As Concerned Father Raises Alarm

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As focus becomes firmly placed on the complete disregard for the rules within the construction industry, little attention is paid to how this pervasive Maltese attitude touches all aspects of society, big or small.

Nowhere is this more apparent in the way we drive. A series of videos sent to Lovin Malta show how early morning commuters continuously cut through a one-way suburban street (Triq San Anard) in Tarxien simply to bypass a little bit of traffic going towards Marsa.

The short cut people take passes a blind corner onto what residents, which include young children and adults alike, would consider an expected one-way street.

“There were some occasions I have stopped cars and pointed to the clear one way signs just to be greeted with insults and also threats, while still going around me to cut the traffic,” the father of two who sent in the videos explained to Lovin Malta.

You would think the authorities would at least be able to intervene. The police in both Tarxien and Paola have been regularly informed of the illegalities, yet have failed to take action despite agreeing “with many fist-shaking, head nodding and pencil writing”.

“These prove to be empty promises as since there has never been a policeman or warden placed in this street”

“You may be thinking, ‘But it’s only a street, so what people cut down their traffic journey with a measly short cut?’ One day, there will be an accident, and someone will be either hurt or killed because of someone’s ignorance,” the concerned father continued. “Does there need to be another terrible accident on our roads before someone takes action?”

According to figures, one person dies every three weeks, around 16 people every year.  While fatalities garner widespread coverage, the rate of roughly five traffic-related injuries and 42 collisions per day often falls under the radar.

With roughly 47 new cars on the road per day, the government has failed to take adequate action to clamp down on what seems to be an ever-worsening driving culture.

That’s not to say the public is not at fault either.

When someone dies, the public mourns, often on social media. However, while thoughts and prayers are the name of the game, too many of us are guilty of failing to follow the most basic of rules, and that is not even getting into the pervasive drink-driving culture in Malta.

What do you make of this video?

READ NEXT: Malta Is The Only Country In Europe To See A Rise In Traffic Fatalities In Recent Years

 

Julian is the former editor of Lovin Malta and has a particular interest in politics, the environment, social issues, and human interest stories.

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