Penalty points system for new drivers in 2004

Newly-qualified drivers committing traffic offences will be liable to penalty points from the beginning of the new year, Transport Minister Censu Galea said yesterday.

Speaking at a ceremony when certificates were presented to 65 driving instructors who attended a week-long course, the minister said a legal notice on penalty points would be issued by the end of the year. The penalty points system would eventually be extended to all drivers.

Other measures to be taken to increase safety on the road will include a stiffer driving test. The new test, he said, would include a theoretical section and the practical section would be upgraded.

Mr Galea said the EU was committing itself to reducing traffic fatalities by half by 2010. There were an average of 20 traffic fatalities in Malta annually. In Europe, the figure reached 40,000. This was equivalent to a daily crash of a plane carrying 120 people.

Much of the existing legislation in Malta was introduced when there were fewer vehicles on the road, the minister said. There were now 268,000 vehicles, one for each person over 18, so it was important to update legislation.

The government, he said, had already taken the necessary steps to update particular sections of legislation, which affected both instructors and individuals. In fact, instructors would have to sit for an examination to obtain a licence.

The minister also announced that the Malta Transport Authority would soon be launching totally personalised number plates so as to generate cash for itself. The plates would take up to eight letters and/or numbers and could be used on all vehicles except public transport.

A list of names to be auctioned would be published each month. One would also be able to suggest plates for consideration to be included in the following month's list. The minimum bid for each plate would be Lm500.