Saturday, 7th November 2009
Hair-raising bus journey to Manikata
Just before the end of our recent holiday in Malta I was intrigued to read the letter from a correspondent regarding "driving" in Malta.
I would wholeheartedly agree with her sentiments and would urge that steps be taken to "retrain" some of the bus drivers.
One experience we had was on the No 47. The driver had two mobile phones and on leaving Valletta he used first one and then the other.
As we neared Mosta he began to send a text message. He continued texting all through Mosta even when negotiating roundabouts and sharp bends. On two occasions he almost hit oncoming cars as the bus was edging over the white line.
On the stretch of road between Mosta and Mġarr the bus was travelling at about 60 plus miles per hour although we could not check as the speedometer was not working.
All the passengers were holding on tightly to the seats as were two ticket inspectors. Again he was texting.
When we got to Manikata he drove the bus through the village as if he was on an Alpine rally. The journey, scheduled to take 40-45 minutes, was completed in less than 25 minutes.
Yes please do something about the driving. If we wanted to go on a rollercoaster we would go to the fairground. We come to Malta to enjoy this beautiful and friendly island and we would like to travel around it in safety, not to be scared out our wits!
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Comments
The "Inspectors" have become the Drivers' puppets, they are a waste of time and wages!
Those of us who believe they can drive while talking on a mobile phone or text message device, please take a look at some sites that I’ve quickly put together for you below, particularly the www.youtube.com/?v=t8LuM92Twm8 www.trainaccidentshelp.com/chatsworth-train-crash
Cell phone driving statistics
• Distraction from cell phone use while driving (hand held or hands free) extends a driver's reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at and above the legal limit of .08 percent. (University of Utah)
• The No.1 source of driver inattention is use of a wireless device. (Virginia Tech/NHTSA)
• Drivers that use cell phones are four times as likely to get into serious crashes involving serious injury and death…. (NHTSA, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• 10 percent of drivers aged 16 to 24 years old are on their phone at any one time.
• Driving while distracted is a factor in 25 percent of police reported crashes.
• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent (Carnegie Mellon)
www.youtube.com/?v=iGN1pLI4ZaM -
www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/technology/21distracted.html
www.livescience.com/technology/050201_cell_danger.html
I know the process of transport reform has started, but surely such disgraceful behaviour cannot be allowed to persist. Is it not illegal to drive while using a mobile phone? What about the inspectors on the bus? The whole thing is a farce and the ADT calls itself an "Authority"!
Rev. Robb is correct to air his concerns, and it is hoped that he submitted a formal complaint to the authorities concerned at the appropriate time.
It appears to me from this account that this particular driver is highly skilled in driving. What he lacks is the right attitude and responsibility towards his passengers. Given that the speedometer was not functioning, I am not certain how the Reverend could assess the speed of the bus. Is it possible that the driver had two mobile phones because he was dealing with some form of emergency? That was of course no excuse for such behaviour. If that was the case he should have asked another driver to take his place.
There is no doubt that more driver education is needed not only for bus drivers but for several other drivers as well. The media could give a contribution in this respect.
You must have noticed all the religious icons on every bus. This means that the drivers are being looked after from above.
I hope you said a prayer giving thanks for your deliverence on arrival
.......NEW OPERATOR
.......NEW BUSES
.......NEW ROUTES..........
.......WILL NEVER MAKE UP FOR A CHANGE IN THE DRIVERS' MENTALITY,
So excuse me for thinking that nothing will ever change with the bus service in Malta & Gozo unless we start afresh with new educated drivers.....!
This driver should be FIRED; it just proves that they would risk passenger safety at all costs!!
I think it's high-time that passengers bombard the phone lines with complaints to the ATP.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!