Editorial

It is no news that air pollution in Malta is rife and more widely spread than in any European country except for some bad areas. It is also well realised that we talk more about the problem than take actual steps to reduce the incidence.

To give just a few examples where action was warranted years ago, and promised to boot, by various governments, without issue, there are the old buses and trucks still fuming away everywhere, St Luke's Hospital incinerator, the Maghtab showpiece. Doing something about those would already have brought the situation in from the red.

Now there is news of a new car being introduced into Malta. A letter by a The Times correspondent draws attention to the possible saving that can be made, both in terms of fuel and air pollution, with the introduction of Reva, the Indian electric car. This is a battery-driven car that could bring a healthy respite to "those who are afflicted with asthma and other pollution induced health problems".

Statistics have told us over and over again that there is far too much traffic on our island. There are far too many cars, our lifestyle by which we expect to travel a few yards by private car, needs changing, our road discipline leaves much to be desired, the enforcement of our laws when they exist, being half-hearted at the best.

The battery-operated car spells hope. But the car needs to be supported if it is to take in the local market at all. Our travelling distances, unlike those abroad, are very short. Our ecological needs are urgent, those of our health (children and all) clamorous.

Battery operating would entail more energy production, of course, and that is another problem which has to be faced by the experts with long-distance planning and foresight. But there is no doubt that battery-operated traffic inside towns and cities would make the sun shine again on pure air.

Consumers, however, will not necessarily take easily to it, seeing that it lacks the power, the speed, the class of other cars. For many people the car is a class symbol or even a sex symbol or an escape from real problems in their lives.

There must be incentives to buy or disincentives not to buy elsewhere. Environmental friendliness and fantastic economy do not always persuade the locals. We are not yet nationally environmentally conscious and responsible to that extent. We still expect the government to do it all for us.

But there are things the government can and ought to do.

Our correspondent mentions greater tax concessions and drastic reduction of road tax - at least until electric cars have been accepted. This will help to induce a change in the attitude of motorists to electric cars and compensate for the initial inconvenience to drivers until charging points become established all over the island, making it more convenient.

An eye-opener is that these cars have unbelievably low running and maintenance costs. Drastic reductions in registration tax (currently lowered to 16.5 per cent from 50 per cent), VAT, levies and registration fees for a period, road licence fees, and maybe insurance premiums, would seem to be what is needed to usher in ecologically friendly transport.