IM chief dismisses concerns about safety of crash barriers

Ivan Falzon says crash barriers on Maltese roads conform and are certified in line with European standards

Tista' taqra bil-Malti.

Road crash barriers deployed by Infrastructure Malta conform and are certified in line with European standards, the agency's CEO Ivan Falzon said.

In comments to Newsbook.com.mt, Falzon dismissed concerns raised by motorcyclists over the safety of road barriers in Maltese roads.

Following the tragic death of Rupert Tabone on Sunday afternoon, many motorcyclists blamed the poorly designed crash barriers for the the latest road fatality.

Tabone, 54, died on Sunday afternoon after he lost control of his motorcycle on Triq Dun Karm in Birkirkara. The man was pronounced dead on site.

Footage from the incident site show that the victim was caught between the crash barriers dividing the two carriageways with eyewitnesses explaining that he was stuck beneath them.

Taking to social media, several motorcyclists insisted that such crash barriers are a death trap and responsible for many deaths. In the past, motorcyclists warned that the crash barrier ends can be "like crashing into the sharp edge of a knife."

However, Falzon said that crash barriers on Maltese roads are fully certified according to EU regulations and are installed in accordance with the producer's installation method.

"Over the last few years, since its inception, Infrastructure Malta (IM) introduced new standards for road infrastructure, including new restraint systems and such approaches have been implemented across the various projects IM implemented," Falzon said.

He added that "when it comes to road safety, I see a collective responsibility of all, starting from our individual behaviour when driving, to our ambitious but achievable target in designing more forgiving roads including applying new technologies and standards as they become available."

Recently, Ħaż-Żebbuġ councillor Steve Zammit Lupi, a motorcyclist himself, likened the crash barriers on Maltese roads to a grater and said they cause serious injuries to the victim.

A 2015 study by the Swedish Motorcyclists Association had found that guardrails with unprotected posts and protruding parts lead to the most serious injuries. Smooth barriers without unprotected posts provide less risk of injury.

According to the Federation of European Motorcyclists Association, space underneath the crash barrier beam can also be dangerous. Riders sliding on the ground can go underneath the guardrail or hit a post, and both can lead to severe injury.