Elderly man may be charged

An elderly man who on September 7 was involved in a collision involving a motorcycle in Luqa, is likely to be charged with causing the death of another person through carelessness or imprudence, police sources said yesterday.

Ryan Albert Ciappara, a 17-year-old youth, died in the traffic accident at Luqa.

The teenager, from St Paul's Bay, was driving a 250cc motor cycle in Council of Europe Street, in the direction of Luqa at about 7 a.m.

The elderly man was allegedly using the zebra crossing while the pelican lights were red for pedestrians. The motorcycle rider tried to avoid him, hit the rear end of his bike and crashed. He died on the spot. The elderly man was hospitalised but was released shortly after.

Sources said the police are still awaiting the conclusion of the magisterial inquiry before pressing charges, which are likely to be those of causing the death of another person through carelessness or imprudence. The charge carries a prison term of up to four years and a fine of up to Lm5,000.

The accident highlighted the fact that in Malta there are no rules against pedestrians crossing when the lights are red for them.

Jay walking is an offence abroad. But in Malta there are no such rules and Interior Minister Tonio Borg said when contacted, there did not appear the need for them at the moment.

It is quite common for some to take a chance and dash across pedestrian crossings against the lights. In St Anne Street, Floriana, people, including women with children, can be seen crossing the road daily a few metres away from the zebra crossing or the subway.

"Very often, people cross while the lights are red for motorists, but they do not use the pedestrian crossing. This is very dangerous, especially in two or three lane traffic situations, where drivers stuck in traffic are eyeing the lights and would be oblivious of a pedestrian who would be crossing the road in front of his car. A person does not have to get the full impact of a moving car to be killed or badly injured. If a person is hit by a mirror, that is enough for serious injury," a traffic expert said.

This year, a total of 29 drivers were booked for failing to stop on a pedestrian crossing and 397 for failing to obey traffic lights.