The roads out there are a jungle

Last week I read a letter in The Times that suggested that too many people were failing their driving test. The writer suggested that this may have something to do with bribery. On the same day I watched an 18-year-old newly qualified driver trying to park his beautiful open top sports car parallel to the kerb. After much effort he finally left it one metre into the road and on a yellow line.

The Times carried a report that 90 per cent of police drivers in a Russian town failed their driving test. On my way home I watched a Maltese policeman driving the whole length of the St Paul's Bay bypass in the outside, or overtaking, lane when there was no other traffic on the road. A police motorcycle rider was seriously injured in an accident. His helmet was lying on the ground some distance away. My highly intelligent professional neighbour had no idea that the speed limit in Mġarr is 35kph, despite passing the sign at least twice a day for the last 15 years. While I was driving at the maximum national speed limit one evening I was overtaken by a large black BMW with a senior member of the government in the passenger seat chatting away merrily to his chauffeur.

The radio reported that we have an average of 260 traffic accidents every week. I have decided to buy an old pick-up, throw away the wing mirrors and the indicators, and with cigarette in one hand and mobile phone to my ear, I will go out and join the melée.